Straight White American Jesus

Brad and Dan break down JD Vance's wide-ranging interview with Gen Z podcaster Bryce Crawford, unpacking his comments on the end times, the possibility that the Antichrist is "living among us," and his oddly deflated answer about whether he's going to heaven — reading it all as Vance clumsily blending incompatible evangelical premillennial and Christian nationalist post-millennial theologies to court an audience he doesn't quite understand. They also examine the wave of right-wing attacks on Gloria Steinem following her death, using her own words on the "traditional family" to explain why pluralism in family structures is treated as an existential threat by the Christian right. Finally, they dig into new USPS mail-voting rules — including a whistleblower complaint and a tense court hearing before Judge Talwani — that could result in ballots being rejected over postmark delays ahead of the midterms, before closing with reasons for hope in independent medical groups' vaccine guidance and an unusually real consequence for a billionaire sports owner. If you enjoy our work, please subscribe. Paid subscribers get bonus content, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1k episode archive, an invite to our Discord community, and access to the Axis Daily Brief. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🔔Subscribe - Substack: www.axismundi.substack.com Books mentioned: 📕 American Caesar: How Theocrats and Tech Lords Are Turning America into a Monarchy by Brad Onishi — out September 15: https://static.macmillan.com/static/e... 📗 Defying Tyrants: Following Jesus in a World of Christian Antichrists by Matthew D. Taylor — out October 6: https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/... Live events: 🎤 Brad in Portland at Annie Bloom's Books — September 16, 7 PM: https://annieblooms.com/event/2026-09... Full tour dates: https://axismundinetwork.substack.com... 🔗 axismundi.us www.quo.com/SWAJ - Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months www.groundnews.com/SWAJ 40% off the Vantage Subscription! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even people have never set foot in a church have probably heard of “baptism” and know that it’s something…well…Christian. But what exactly IS baptism? Why do Christians do it? How do they do it? Who get baptized? And why don’t Christians all think the same thing about baptism? Why has it been so divisive and such a hot-button issue over time? Join Dan for this week’s episode as he untangles this familiar, but still baffling, practice. SUPPORT US: www.axismundi.us www.irmce.org - our supporting nonprofit Books : 📕 American Caesar: How Theocrats and Tech Lords Are Turning America into a Monarchy by Brad Onishi — out September 15: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ 📗 Defying Tyrants: Following Jesus in a World of Christian Antichrists by Matthew D. Taylor — out October 6: ⁠https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/... ⁠Live events:🎤 Brad in Portland at Annie Bloom's Books — September 16, 7 PM: ⁠https://annieblooms.com/event/2026-09...⁠ 🎤 Brad, Matt Taylor, Robert P. Jones, in Denver — November 20 Full tour dates: axismundi.us🔗 axismundi.us Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Onishi and Matthew D. Taylor break down two major stories reshaping the Trump-era right: the sudden deportation of Milo Yiannopoulos and the escalating chaos inside Pete Hegseth's Pentagon.They dig into how Milo's fast-tracked removal reveals the internal power struggles of MAGA world — including his feud with Nick Fuentes and Laura Loomer's growing influence over immigration enforcement — and what it signals about who gets protected and who gets purged within the movement. Then they turn to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, examining reports of mass firings among top generals, a rudderless U.S. Army, unsustainable war spending in Iran, and the Pentagon's controversial move to put paid influencers like "Data Republican" on the payroll to push pro-Hegseth messaging while shutting out the traditional press.Along the way: Christian nationalism's role in reshaping MAGA identity, the military's meritocracy under threat, Silicon Valley's growing alignment with authoritarian politics, and whether Hegseth's rumored presidential ambitions have any real chance.SUPPORT US:www.axismundi.uswww.irmce.org - our supporting nonprofitBooks mentioned:📕 American Caesar: How Theocrats and Tech Lords Are Turning America into a Monarchy by Brad Onishi — out September 15: https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/📗 Defying Tyrants: Following Jesus in a World of Christian Antichrists by Matthew D. Taylor — out October 6: https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/...Live events:🎤 Brad in Portland at Annie Bloom's Books — September 16, 7 PM: https://annieblooms.com/event/2026-09...🎤 Brad, Matt Taylor, Robert P. Jones, in Denver — November 20Full tour dates: axismundi.us🔗 axismundi.us Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad sits down with journalist Sarah Stankorb to discuss her new book, Damned If She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, out September 15th. They dig into why women — long the backbone of American congregations — are leaving in unprecedented numbers, from Gen Z women outpacing their male peers to the erosion of the gender gap among millennials. The conversation covers the specific fractures driving women out: the Catholic sex abuse crisis and its parallels in evangelical spaces, the racial reckoning of 2020 and churches' silence in its wake, and the deep discomfort many feel over homophobia and transphobia within their communities. They also explore what comes after leaving — the difficulty of trusting institutions again, the patchwork spiritualities (astrology, women's gyms, tarot) many turn to instead, and the striking demographic differences between atheists, agnostics, and the "nothing in particulars." The episode closes with a wide-ranging discussion of institutional trust, political imagination, and whether the energy behind candidates like Zohran Mamdani is connected to this same generational exodus from organized religion. 🔔 Become a paid subscriber for ad-free listening, bonus content, and access to daily analysis on religion, politics, and the Christian right. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.ground.news/swaj for 40% of the Vantage Subscription Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the SWAJ Weekly Roundup, Brad and Dan dig into Lance Wallnau's baseless claim that Texas gubernatorial candidate James Talarico is secretly linked to Al-Qaeda, unpacking how this fits a broader Christian nationalist strategy of tying Democrats to Islamist and Marxist "infiltrators" — even as polling shows Talarico outperforming Trump's 2024 numbers in his district. They also break down Enes Kanter Freedom's confrontational stunt at a WNBA game, arguing that anti-trans activism functions as a form of misogyny aimed at enforcing patriarchal norms on women's spaces. The episode closes with a look at a Florida grand jury finding that the DeSantis administration misappropriated $10 million meant for children's Medicaid to fight a marijuana legalization ballot measure — a story Brad and Dan frame as part of a broader erosion of political accountability. 🔔 Become a paid subscriber for ad-free listening, bonus content, and access to daily analysis on religion, politics, and the Christian right. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.ground.news/swaj for 40% of the Vantage Subscription Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The story of Noah’s ark is one of the most well-known in the Bible, even among those who are not Christian and have never read the Bible. But what questions come up if we really pay attention to the story? Does it make any sense? Could it actually have happened? What does it mean if it didn’t? And what justifies God killing all the living things on earth? These are big questions, questions we weren’t supposed to ask in church. Check out this week’s episode hear Dan’s answers to these and more. 🔔 Subscribe for daily analysis on religion, politics, and the Christian right. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠⁠⁠ www.ground.news/swaj for 40% of the Vantage Subscription Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Axis Live, Brad Onishi and Matthew D. Taylor examine growing efforts to undermine confidence in the 2026 elections, including claims about foreign interference, voter rolls, mail-in voting, and calls from figures on the American right for a national emergency. They discuss how election-denial rhetoric can shift from questioning election integrity to challenging the legitimacy of results, and why the period after the election could be as important as Election Day itself. The second half of the episode focuses on Jake Lang, his increasingly confrontational political spectacles, his Christian supremacist rhetoric, and the larger movement behind him. Following Lang’s confrontation with a protester dressed as Spider-Man, Brad, Matt, and writer Kate Burns examine how provocation, confrontation, and claims of persecution can become political content. 🔔 Subscribe for daily analysis on religion, politics, and the Christian right. ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: ⁠⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠⁠ www.ground.news/swaj for 40% of the Vantage Subscription Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What can reality TV tell us about Christian nationalism, purity culture, and the politics of gender? Annika Brockschmidt talks with journalist and podcaster Claire Fallon about the surprisingly deep connections between The Bachelor, evangelical Christianity, and the conservative politics shaping American culture. They discuss how the franchise normalizes heterosexual marriage, traditional gender roles, purity culture, and evangelical assumptions; how conservative Christian contestants have turned reality TV fame into influential media platforms; and how figures like Madison Pruitt have moved from The Bachelor into the world of MAGA Christian influence. They also explore the politics of dating in the Trump era, the rise of Mormon reality TV, and what shows like Love Is Blind and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives reveal about the changing relationship between religion, politics, sex, and popular culture. 🔔 Subscribe for daily analysis on religion, politics, and the Christian right. ⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: ⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ www.ground.news/swaj for 40% of the Vantage Subscription Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christian nationalism is not simply a religious movement—it is a political project that challenges the foundations of a pluralist democracy. Brad Onishi and Dan Miller examine the growing Christian nationalist effort to redefine who counts as a “real” American, from arguments about immigration and religious identity to the defense of Derek Chauvin and the rejection of democratic accountability. They also break down the recent Christian nationalism debate featuring Doug Wilson, Joe Rigney, Al Mohler, and Paul Miller, and explain why the movement’s vision of a Christian America is fundamentally at odds with religious freedom and equal citizenship. 🔔 Subscribe for daily analysis on religion, politics, and the Christian right. ⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠⁠ 💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/ #ChristianNationalism #Democracy #ChristianNationalismDebate #ReligiousFreedom #AmericanDemocracy #ChristianityAndPolitics #Trump #MAGA #PoliticalExtremism #RuleOfLaw #DougWilson #JoeRigney #DerekChauvin #GeorgeFloyd #JamesComey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Theologically conservative Christians believe apparently contradictory things about Judaism and Jewish people. On the one hand, they will often describe Jewish people as being “the people of God.” On the other hand, they typically hold that, as non-Christians, Jewish people are condemned to go to hell when they die. How do these attitudes fit together? Is it possible to hold them together consistently? What do the answers to these questions tell us about conservative Christians’ understandings of Judaism and Jewish identity? And why are questions like these ones we’re not supposed to ask in church? Join Dan for this week’s episode to find out! Get signed copies of American Caesar at Annie Bloom's: ⁠⁠https://annieblooms.com/⁠⁠ Join us September 16 at Annie Bloom's for the American Caesar book launch! 🔔 Subscribe for daily analysis on religion, politics, and the Christian right. https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/ Go to ⁠⁠groundnews.com/SWAJ⁠⁠ to get 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan and unlock world-wide perspectives on the stories shaping our world. 💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ICE agents infiltrated churches, activist meetings, libraries, and community organizations in Minnesota as part of what has been dubbed Operation Puppet Master. In this episode of Axis Live, Matthew D. Taylor and Rev. Susie Hayward discuss what newly disclosed documents reveal about the government's surveillance of protesters—and what it means for religious freedom, constitutional rights, and the future of democracy. They also examine the growing anti-Muslim campaign targeting Dearborn, Michigan, including a planned "Crusader March" backed by MAGA activists, and explore how Christian nationalism is fueling new forms of religious exclusion. Finally, Taylor and Hayward discuss the dismantling of the U.S. Institute of Peace, the loss of religious expertise within American foreign policy, and what the current crisis tells us about the health of American democracy—and where hope for a democratic revival might come from. 🔔 Subscribe for daily analysis on religion, politics, and the Christian right. ⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠ 💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/ #ICE #OperationPuppetMaster #ChristianNationalism #ReligiousFreedom #Trump #MAGA #Immigration #Minnesota #Dearborn #Islamophobia #AmericanDemocracy #Democracy #USIP #PoliticalExtremism #AxisLive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad Onishi sits down with Congressman Jared Huffman to discuss his new book, No Prophets: The Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism. Huffman shares his journey from growing up in a devout Mormon community to becoming a humanist and the only openly non-believing member of Congress, and explains how the rise of Trump and Christian nationalism pushed him to speak publicly about the dangers of religious extremism. They discuss the New Apostolic Reformation, January 6, the religious forces surrounding Trump, Mike Johnson, the influence of Christian nationalism in Congress, Christian Zionism, traditionalist Catholicism, and why the separation of church and state is increasingly under threat. Huffman also explains why he believes saving democracy will require religious and nonreligious Americans to work together—and why, even in a deeply troubling political moment, he refuses to give up. 🔔 Subscribe for daily analysis on religion, politics, and the Christian right. https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/ 💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen to the Axis Daily Brief:Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4M... No Prophets: https://bookshop.org/p/books/no-prophets-the-fight-to-save-democracy-from-christian-nationalism-jared-huffman/b28b36a73cf41cdd Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steven Crowder recently released a video titled “We Need Fascism,” making an explicit argument for fascism rather than merely flirting with the idea. In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad Onishi and Dan Miller break down Crowder’s argument and ask what it reveals about the direction of the American right. The conversation connects Crowder’s rhetoric about communism, violence, and “disinfecting” the country to a broader political movement increasingly portraying opponents of MAGA and Christian nationalism as enemies of America. Brad argues that this reflects a deeper shift: if the Christian nationalist right no longer believes it represents a majority of Americans, democracy itself can begin to look like an obstacle rather than a solution. 🔔 Subscribe for daily analysis on religion, politics, and the Christian right. https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/ 💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen to the Axis Daily Brief:Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4M... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Dan on vacation, we bring you one of the most popular episodes of It's In the Code: "Strong Handshakes" In this episode, Dan continues decoding a card from a church bulletin that outlines the features of a particular church. The focus this time is the promise of “strong handshakes.” There’s a lot to decode with this idea: What does it express about gender? About sexuality? About the family? About this church’s view of proper social order? Check it out to find the answers to these (and other!) questions. Church Bulletin Photo ⁠HERE Get signed copies of American Caesar at Annie Bloom's: ⁠⁠⁠https://annieblooms.com/⁠⁠⁠ Join us September 16 at Annie Bloom's for the American Caesar book launch! 🔔 Subscribe for daily analysis on religion, politics, and the Christian right. ⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠ Go to ⁠⁠groundnews.com/SWAJ⁠⁠ to get 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan and unlock world-wide perspectives on the stories shaping our world. 💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/e...⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's Axis Live Brad Onishi begins by breaking down a video posted by the US Department of State that showcases Marco Rubio's Christian nationalism and Western civilizationalism. Brad digs below the surface to decode the ways Rubio outlines a common good conservatism that seeks to impose order and virtue through family, church, and state. Brad then welcomes Rev. Adam Hamilton to the show. Hamilton is the Democratic nominee for Senate in Kansas who is attempting to end a 90-year drought of Democratic Senators from Kansas. Rev. Hamilton talks about how he will be a public servant for all Kansans not despite his faith, but because the Jesus he serves is a public servant for all people. Get signed copies of American Caesar at Annie Bloom's: ⁠⁠https://annieblooms.com/⁠⁠ Join us September 16 at Annie Bloom's for the American Caesar book launch! 🔔 Subscribe for daily analysis on religion, politics, and the Christian right. https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/ Go to ⁠⁠groundnews.com/SWAJ⁠⁠ to get 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan and unlock world-wide perspectives on the stories shaping our world. 💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/e... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does the emerging religious left look like—and is it becoming a force in Democratic politics? In this Sunday interview, Leah Payne speaks with Associated Press religion and culture reporter Kyrsta Fauria about her reporting on progressive candidates and activists drawing on religious traditions to confront economic inequality, defend workers’ rights, and advocate for policies like universal health care. They discuss Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, the interfaith coalition supporting his campaign, and the ways his Muslim faith has been both weaponized against him and intentionally foregrounded in his political identity. Get signed copies of American Caesar at Annie Bloom's: ⁠https://annieblooms.com/⁠ Join us September 16 at Annie Bloom's for the American Caesar book launch! 🔔 Subscribe for daily analysis on religion, politics, and the Christian right. 💬 Join the conversation on Substack and Discord — links below. Go to ⁠groundnews.com/SWAJ⁠ to get 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan and unlock world-wide perspectives on the stories shaping our world. 💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen to the Axis Daily Brief:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4M..⁠. Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..⁠. 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: ⁠⁠⁠https://us.macmillan.com/books/978125..⁠. ⁠#AbdulElSayed⁠ ⁠#MichiganSenate⁠ ⁠#MichiganPolitics⁠ ⁠#DemocraticPrimary⁠ ⁠#ProgressivePolitics⁠ ⁠#ChristianNationalism⁠ ⁠#Trump⁠ ⁠#MAGA⁠ ⁠#TedCruz⁠ ⁠#MikeJohnson⁠ ⁠#Democrats⁠ ⁠#GOP⁠ ⁠#AmericanPolitics⁠ ⁠#IsraelPalestine⁠ ⁠#MedicareForAll⁠ ⁠#CitizensUnited⁠ ⁠#ProjectEsther⁠ ⁠#PoliticalDissent⁠ ⁠#2026Election⁠ ⁠#christiannationalism⁠ ⁠#religion⁠ ⁠#christianity⁠ ⁠#USA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Weekly Roundup, Brad Onishi examines how the American Right and MAGA are reacting to Abdul El-Sayed's victory in Michigan by calling him anti-American, communist, socialist, and more. As Brad explains, these rhetorical choices are strategies that correspond to a larger effort by the Trump administration to criminalize dissent. Brad traces the code words used by the American Right against Sayed, Mamdani, and others to NSPM7 and Project Esther. This is about more than one Senate race in Michigan. It’s about who gets to define what counts as “American,” what kinds of political disagreement are considered legitimate, and what happens when the language of political opposition becomes the language of political persecution. Get signed copies of American Caesar at Annie Bloom's: https://annieblooms.com/ Join us September 16 at Annie Bloom's for the American Caesar book launch! 🔔 Subscribe for daily analysis on religion, politics, and the Christian right. 💬 Join the conversation on Substack and Discord — links below. Go to groundnews.com/SWAJ to get 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan and unlock world-wide perspectives on the stories shaping our world. 💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen to the Axis Daily Brief:Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4M... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: ⁠⁠https://us.macmillan.com/books/978125... #AbdulElSayed #MichiganSenate #MichiganPolitics #DemocraticPrimary #ProgressivePolitics #ChristianNationalism #Trump #MAGA #TedCruz #MikeJohnson #Democrats #GOP #AmericanPolitics #IsraelPalestine #MedicareForAll #CitizensUnited #ProjectEsther #PoliticalDissent #2026Election #christiannationalism #religion #christianity #USA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of It’s In the Code, Dan Miller tackles a question from a Jewish listener that cuts to the heart of Christian theology: if Jesus established a new covenant that fulfilled the Old Testament law, why do so many conservative Christians continue to rely on Old Testament verses to make moral arguments? Dan explores the New Testament's teaching on grace, the Apostle Paul’s insistence that Christians are no longer bound by the Jewish law, and the complicated relationship Christians have with the Hebrew Bible. Along the way, he explains why many conservative Christians selectively appeal to Old Testament commandments—especially on issues like sexuality—while disregarding countless other laws they believe no longer apply. ⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠ 💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen to the Axis Daily Brief:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..⁠. 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ ⁠ Go to ⁠groundnews.com/SWAJ⁠ to get 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan and unlock world-wide perspectives on the stories shaping our world. The Axis Mundi Network A growing independent media institution that combines the expertise of public scholarship with the rapid-response daily drops and live video podcasts. By Brad Onishi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this livestream of Straight White American Jesus (Axis Live), Matthew Taylor and Brad Onishi analyze three stories: 1. The meeting between Bibi Netanyahu and New Apostolic Reformation Leaders like Lance Wallnau 2. The emerging crop of Democratic candidates who are pastors and/or religious leaders 3. With Andrew Whitehead, the new evidence of how Christian nationalism is a predictor for opposition to income equality and a social safety net. https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/ 💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen to the Axis Daily Brief:Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4M..⁠. Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..⁠. 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/ ⁠#Warnock #Talarico ⁠#ChristianNationalism⁠ ⁠#Authoritarianism⁠ ⁠#FarRight⁠ ⁠#WesternCivilization⁠ ⁠#Immigration⁠ ⁠#TheEconomist⁠ ⁠#Politics⁠ ⁠#Religion⁠ ⁠#Democracy⁠ ⁠#Trump⁠ ⁠#JDVance⁠ ⁠#PeterThiel⁠ ⁠#AxisMundi⁠ ⁠#BradOnishi⁠ ⁠#PoliticalAnalysis⁠ ⁠#CurrentEvents⁠ ⁠#Geopolitics⁠ ⁠#Civilizationalism⁠ ⁠#AmericanCaesar⁠ Go to groundnews.com/SWAJ to get 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan and unlock world-wide perspectives on the stories shaping our world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Onishi interviews TJ Poortinga, author of Electric Orange, a darkly comic novel about memory, media, and the danger of being taken seriously. Part psychological mystery, part alternate history, it’s a portrait of a person—and a nation—that can’t distinguish madness from insight. When Pieter Verboom has a nervous breakdown on national television, the last thing he expects is to become a populist icon. But when his ironic rant is taken literally by America’s fringe, he’s hailed as the architect of a movement he wants nothing to do with. Desperate to disappear, he’s hounded by an unhinged publicist, Ella Walker, who sees disaster as branding gold. Told through the eyes of his loyal student, Santo Vera, Electric Orange is a surreal odyssey through a nation that mistakes sarcasm for a blueprint. https://bookshop.org/p/books/electric-orange-tj-poortinga/1f28115396e32649?ean=9798999882400 For subscribers, a journey into the archives with Brad's interview of Carolyn Chen, author of Work, Pray, Code. https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/ 💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen to the Axis Daily Brief:Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4M... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: ⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/e... #ElonMusk #ChristianNationalism #Authoritarianism #FarRight #WesternCivilization #Immigration #TheEconomist #Politics #Religion #Democracy #Trump #JDVance #PeterThiel #AxisMundi #BradOnishi #PoliticalAnalysis #CurrentEvents #Geopolitics #Civilizationalism #AmericanCaesar www.groundnews.com/swaj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Weekly Roundup, Brad Onishi and Dan Miller breakdown three stories: 1. The GOP pursuit of Anthony Fauci over COVID era decisions and funding. 2. A new poll that shows 66% of MAGA supporters would continue to push for a candidate accused of sexual assault + Elon Musk's lawsuit against a law that bans nudifying AI. 3. The State Department's humiliating mistake in using an error-filled AI-generated map of Africa. The thesis: You can't have democracy without shared facts, shared reality, and universal accountability. (00:00) – Introduction and technological mishaps (01:03) – The significance of shared facts and democracy (04:12) – Democracy, truth, and trust: Maria Ressa’s insights (08:39) – McCarthyism and the obsession with prosecuting Fauci (12:14) – GOP's distraction tactics: From Fauci to election interference (14:47) – The decline of literacy and its societal consequences (19:23) – The post-literate society and the rise of influencers over facts (22:46) – The crisis of accountability and the patriarchal narrative (27:00) – Support for scandal-ridden politicians among GOP voters (35:52) – The monstrous support for domestic abusers in politics (44:42) – The suppression of free inquiry and Western civilization myths (50:04) – AI, geography errors, and neglect of global health issues (52:47) – Musk, deepfakes, and the devaluation of human life (56:38) – Hope amid chaos: Reflections on political resilience and potential for change https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/ 💙 Support our work: ⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen to the Axis Daily Brief:Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4MbwXJvxp6MoDkmtj?si=a99b3f1b08e74f55⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠ 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: ⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠⁠ #ElonMusk #ChristianNationalism #Authoritarianism #FarRight #WesternCivilization #Immigration #TheEconomist #Politics #Religion #Democracy #Trump #JDVance #PeterThiel #AxisMundi #BradOnishi #PoliticalAnalysis #CurrentEvents #Geopolitics #Civilizationalism #AmericanCaesar www.groundnews.com/swaj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Miller continues his "Questions You Weren't Supposed to Ask in Church" series with a reflection on why only some biblical commands are to be taken literally, but others are not. The episode is based on an email from a listener named Matt, who writes: “If we as Christians are to love as Jesus loved (e.g., John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friend”), then why don’t conservative, 'Bible-believing' Christians, people who say they take the Bible “literally,” that we’re commanded to do everything it directs us to do, etc., not abide by the social demands that seem to be presented in the Bible?" He offers us a few examples:  Mark 12:31: “Love your neighbor as yourself”  James 1:27: “take care of the infants and the widows”  Hebrews 13:3: “remember those who are in prison”  Matt 25: 40: “just as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” If we say we believe the Bible, follow Jesus’ commands, etc., shouldn’t this mean that should support and participate in a robust range of ministries intended to meet social needs? 💙 Support our work: ⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠ ⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen to the Axis Daily Brief:Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4MbwXJvxp6MoDkmtj?si=a99b3f1b08e74f55⁠ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠ 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ #ElonMusk #ChristianNationalism #Authoritarianism #FarRight #WesternCivilization #Immigration #TheEconomist #Politics #Religion #Democracy #Trump #JDVance #PeterThiel #AxisMundi #BradOnishi #PoliticalAnalysis #CurrentEvents #Geopolitics #Civilizationalism #AmericanCaesar www.groundnews.com/swaj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elon Musk says he just wants “secure borders.” But is that really what his politics are about? In this episode of Axis Live, Brad Onishi breaks down Musk’s explosive interview with The Economist, where he accused its editor of being a “traitor to the West.” Brad explains why this language signals something much larger than immigration policy: the rise of Western civilizationalism, a political movement uniting Christian nationalists, authoritarian populists, tech elites, and the global far right around a shared vision of who belongs—and who doesn’t. The conversation explores Musk’s support for Europe’s far-right parties, the ideology of “remigration,” the growing alliance between Silicon Valley and Christian nationalism, and why protecting “Western civilization” has become the new rallying cry for anti-democratic movements. Brad also connects these trends to his forthcoming book, American Caesar, showing how religion, technology, and authoritarian politics are converging in the United States and around the world. 💙 Support our work: https://www.irmce.org/donate 🎧 Listen to the Axis Daily Brief:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4MbwXJvxp6MoDkmtj?si=a99b3f1b08e74f55 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494 📚 Preorder Brad Onishi’s new book, American Caesar: https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/ #ElonMusk #ChristianNationalism #Authoritarianism #FarRight #WesternCivilization #Immigration #TheEconomist #Politics #Religion #Democracy #Trump #JDVance #PeterThiel #AxisMundi #BradOnishi #PoliticalAnalysis #CurrentEvents #Geopolitics #Civilizationalism #AmericanCaesar www.groundnews.com/swaj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Sunday interview, Leah Payne speaks with Dr. Lerone Martin, author of Young King: The Making of Martin Luther King Jr., about the life of Martin Luther King Jr. before he became the civil rights icon we know today. They explore King's teenage years as an agnostic, his struggles with racism and academic challenges, his love of basketball, and the parents, teachers, mentors, and communities that helped shape his faith, intellect, courage, and commitment to justice. Dr. Martin reveals the young person behind the legend—and explains why understanding King's doubts, flaws, failures, and development makes his story even more powerful. The conversation also examines King's early experiences with segregation and freedom, his evolving understanding of leadership and nonviolence, his use of media, and the lessons his life offers movements for social change today. Dr. Martin explains why King would likely warn us not to be surprised by political backlash—and why lasting change requires disciplined organizing, sustained campaigns, economic action, and strong local communities. Subscribe to the Axis Mundi Network on Substack:⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠⁠ Become a paid subscriber:⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠⁠... Support our work with a tax-deductible donation:⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠ Visit the Institute for Religion, Media, and Civic Engagement (IRMCE):⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org⁠⁠ www.groundnews.com/swaj⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Onishi and Dan Miller explore the American right’s furious reaction to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and what the controversy reveals about race, representation, gender, sexuality, and the politics of “Western civilization.” From outrage over Black actors and queer representation in contemporary adaptations to the right’s insistence that certain stories, traditions, and cultural identities belong exclusively to white people, the conversation examines why the boundaries of “the West” are constantly being defended—and who gets pushed outside them. The discussion then turns to the rise of civilizational populism and its growing influence on the American right. Brad and Dan unpack how appeals to “Western Christian civilization” are being used to unite Christian nationalists, technocrats, billionaires, and authoritarian political actors around a shared vision of cultural hierarchy and social order. They connect the backlash over The Odyssey to Marco Rubio’s foreign policy, the politics of Venezuela, the disputed results of a national civics competition, and the broader question of who gets to represent the future of America. Subscribe to the Axis Mundi Network on Substack:⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠Become a paid subscriber:⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠... Support our work with a tax-deductible donation:⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠Visit the Institute for Religion, Media, and Civic Engagement (IRMCE):⁠https://www.irmce.org⁠ ⁠www.groundnews.com/swaj⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode, I’m sharing the prologue to my forthcoming book, American Caesar: How Theocrats and Tech Lords Are Turning America into a Monarchy, which will be published on September 15, 2026. The story begins with my own experience as a teenager in evangelical Christianity—and with the way my understanding of Jesus, America, and the role of Christians in public life has changed over the past three decades. From the “missional” church movement of the 1990s to the rise of Christian nationalism, civilizational supremacy, and the growing embrace of authoritarian power, this prologue explores how “Jesus is King” has become not only a statement of faith, but a political demand. This is a sneak peek at American Caesar, a book about the religious and ideological movements reshaping American democracy—and the future of the country I call home. American Caesar: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ From Silicon Valley boardrooms to rural pulpits, from Catholic monasteries to Beltway think tanks and Project 2025, a convergence is underway. Reactionary Catholics dream of a new Christendom. Protestant pastors invoke divine right over democratic rule. Tech billionaires, led by the likes of Peter Thiel, argue that freedom and democracy are incompatible. Their solution? A singular ruler to bring “order” out of what they see as liberal chaos.With a theologian’s sensibility, a journalist’s touch, and a historian’s eye for how movements evolve and adapt, Dr. Bradley B. Onishi traces the strange alliance between spiritual warfare and Silicon Valley libertarianism. At the center of it all is the desire for an unbound executive—one man, beyond checks, beyond balance, beyond democracy. This isn’t nostalgia for the 1950s. It’s an organized attempt to abandon the American experiment altogether. A former insider turned academic expert, Onishi brings unmatched depth to this investigation—tracing his own path from evangelical pastor to co-host of Straight White American Jesus, the nation’s leading religion and politics podcast.As the 2024 election fades into history and a new political order takes shape, American Caesar is not just a warning. It’s a map of how we got here—and a call to act before the Republic as we know it becomes just another chapter in a forgotten history book. American Caesar: https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How much love is enough? In this episode of It’s In the Code, part of the series “Questions I Wasn’t Supposed to Ask in Church,” we examine one of the most influential teachings in conservative Christianity: that Christians must love God or Jesus more than anyone and anything else. What happens when this teaching becomes an impossible demand? Drawing on a listener’s powerful experience, we explore the connection between the love of God, religious trauma, Christian deconstruction, and the damaging effects that toxic religious teachings can have on relationships with parents, children, partners, and family. For many people leaving high-control religion or evangelical Christianity, questions about how to love God—and whether loving God requires loving other people less—can become central to the process of religious deconstruction. This episode also explores the history of Christian theology and the influence of Greek philosophy on Christian ideas about God, love, the body, the material world, mortality, and human relationships. Is loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength really the same thing as loving God more than everyone else? Can love of God and love of other people exist in harmony? And what if the things we love most are precisely the things that are finite, temporary, and mortal? This conversation about conservative Christianity, religious trauma, spiritual abuse, Christian deconstruction, and the meaning of love ultimately asks whether we need to rethink both love and God. Support independent journalism and public scholarship by becoming a member or making a donation. Follow the Axis Daily Brief for daily analysis of religion, politics, Christian nationalism, and American culture on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Learn more about Axis Mundi and membership at Axis Mundi. ⁠www.groundnews.com/swaj⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump’s war with Iran is exposing a growing fracture inside the MAGA coalition. As the conflict continues, young America First voices—including Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Nick Fuentes—are increasingly at odds with the Christian nationalist and Christian Zionist establishment that continues to support Israel and the war. Brad Onishi, Matthew D. Taylor, and Holly Berkley Fletcher discuss the expanding Iran conflict, the Strait of Hormuz, the threat of a wider regional war, and why the consequences could become increasingly difficult for the Trump administration to contain ahead of the midterm elections. They also examine the generational divide within MAGA, the rise of anti-Semitism and Christian Zionism on the far right, and the growing influence of young online figures who may shape what comes after Trump. The conversation also turns to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s obsession with testosterone, masculinity, and the “warrior” ideal. What does the push to increase testosterone levels in the military reveal about Christian nationalism, the manosphere, evangelical purity culture, gender politics, and the growing ideological influence of the far right inside the U.S. military? This episode explores the intersection of Christian nationalism, MAGA politics, the Iran war, Israel, anti-Semitism, Christian Zionism, masculinity, testosterone, Pete Hegseth, authoritarianism, and the future of the American right. If you value independent reporting and analysis on religion, politics, and democracy, please support the Axis Mundi Network. Subscribe to the Axis Mundi Network on Substack:https://axismundinetwork.substack.comBecome a paid subscriber:https://axismundinetwork.substack.com... Support our work with a tax-deductible donation:https://www.irmce.org/donateVisit the Institute for Religion, Media, and Civic Engagement (IRMCE):https://www.irmce.org#ChristianNationalism #MAGA #Trump #Iran #PeteHegseth #ChristianZionism #Politics ⁠www.groundnews.com/swaj⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Straight White American Jesus Sunday Interview, host Annika Brockschmidt sits down with extremism researcher Eviane Leidig, author of The Women of the Far Right: Social Media Influencers and Online Radicalization, for an in-depth conversation about the women reshaping today's far-right movement. Together they explore how female influencers have become some of the movement's most effective communicators, using lifestyle content, tradwife aesthetics, motherhood, religion, and social media to normalize extremist ideas for mainstream audiences. From Lauren Southern and Lana Lokteff to the emerging "womanosphere," Leidig explains how these figures bridge fringe ideologies and conservative politics while building powerful online communities that extend far beyond national borders. Annika and Evian also examine the relationship between gender, Christianity, anti-feminism, transnational organizing, and white nationalism, unpacking the contradictions that allow women to thrive within deeply patriarchal movements. The conversation closes with a look at the international networks connecting the American and European far right, including the role of influencers, social media platforms, and digital propaganda in shaping contemporary extremist politics. If you value conversations grounded in scholarship and historical context, consider supporting Straight White American Jesus and Axis Mundi Media by becoming a member at Axis Mundi Membership. You'll receive ad-free episodes, bonus content, and access to our community. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and sign up for the SWAJ newsletter to stay up to date with every new episode. Subscribe to the SWAJ Newsletter Support independent journalism and analysis from Axis Mundi Media by becoming a subscriber: ⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠ Subscribe to the Axis Mundi Network on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@AxisMundiNetwork⁠ Learn more about the Institute for Religion, Media, and Civic Engagement: ⁠https://www.irmce.org⁠ Eviane Leidig: The Women of the Far Right: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-women-of-the-far-right/9780231210171/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad Onishi sits down with renowned scholar, author, and television producer Reza Aslan for a wide-ranging conversation about America's religious past—and why that history matters more than ever. Drawing on Aslan's new podcast series, Our Seven Neighbors, they unpack the myths surrounding "one nation under God," the long struggle for genuine religious freedom, and the forgotten stories of Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Catholics, Indigenous peoples, and other communities who had to fight for the rights they were promised. Together they explore how Christian nationalism distorts American history, why religious pluralism has always been contested, and what the nation's 250th anniversary should really invite us to remember. The conversation also turns to immigration, Islamophobia, Chinese exclusion, the enduring legacy of empire, and even an extended behind-the-scenes discussion of HBO's The Leftovers, where Aslan served as a producer and helped shape many of the show's religious themes. Whether you're interested in American politics, religion, history, or culture, this episode offers a compelling reminder that democracy has always depended on expanding the circle of belonging—not narrowing it. Support independent journalism and analysis from Axis Mundi Media by becoming a subscriber: https://axismundinetwork.substack.com Subscribe to the Axis Mundi Network on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AxisMundiNetwork Learn more about the Institute for Religion, Media, and Civic Engagement: https://www.irmce.org Our Seven Neighbors: https://www.axismundi.us/podcasts/our-seven-neighbors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of It's In the Code, host Dan Miller tackles one of the most provocative questions a believer can ask: Did God lie in the Garden of Eden? Beginning with a listener's question about Genesis and God's warning that Adam and Eve would die if they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Dan takes a close look at the biblical text itself rather than the assumptions many Christians bring to it. Along the way, he explores how later theological traditions—including original sin, spiritual death, and the identification of the serpent with Satan—have shaped the way this familiar story is understood, often in ways that go beyond what the text actually says. Drawing connections to his previous episode on Job, Dan argues that some of the Bible's most challenging passages become even more unsettling when read carefully and without inherited interpretations. He examines the role of the serpent, the meaning of knowledge, and why difficult questions about scripture are so often discouraged in high-control religious communities. Rather than seeing these questions as signs of weak faith, Dan suggests they emerge from taking the Bible seriously enough to wrestle honestly with its complexities. If you've ever been told there are questions you're not supposed to ask in church, this episode invites you to ask them anyway. If you value independent analysis at the intersection of religion and politics, subscribe to the Axis Mundi Network on Substack at ⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠⁠⁠ for daily briefings, exclusive podcasts, and live events. You can also support our work by becoming a member or making a tax-deductible donation through the Institute for Religion, Media, and Civic Engagement (IRMCE) at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to Axis Mundi Media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support our work: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠... Make a tax-deductible donation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4M...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Axis Live, Brad Onishi and Matthew D. Taylor examine the political and religious legacy of Lindsey Graham following his death, asking how a senator once known for challenging Donald Trump ultimately became one of Trump's most loyal defenders. They explore Graham's transformation through the lens of white evangelical politics, Christian nationalism, and the pursuit of political power, while also discussing the contradictions between the Religious Right's "pro-life" identity and its support for war, immigration crackdowns, and other policies that raise difficult moral questions. The conversation also considers what Graham's passing signals about the future of the Republican Party, particularly as younger America First leaders challenge the foreign policy and evangelical consensus that Graham represented for decades. The second half of the show turns to the ongoing pretrial hearings in the Charlie Kirk murder case, where questions about religion, politics, and Christian identity are already shaping legal arguments. Brad and Matt unpack how prosecutors and defense attorneys are framing Kirk's beliefs, the growing effort to portray him as a Christian martyr, and the broader implications for Christian nationalism in American public life. They are joined by Arizona journalist Haley Orion of Left Coast Right Watch, who offers on-the-ground reporting from the Utah courthouse and explains why the trial has become a flashpoint for MAGA factions, conspiracy theories, and the future of Turning Point USA. Together, they separate fact from speculation while exploring how religion continues to shape America's political conflicts. If you value independent analysis at the intersection of religion and politics, subscribe to the Axis Mundi Network on Substack at ⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠⁠ for daily briefings, exclusive podcasts, and live events. You can also support our work by becoming a member or making a tax-deductible donation through the Institute for Religion, Media, and Civic Engagement (IRMCE) at ⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org⁠⁠. Subscribe to Axis Mundi Media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support our work: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠... Make a tax-deductible donation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4M...⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast...⁠⁠⁠⁠ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Sunday Interview, Brad Onishi sits down with historian and former CIA Africa analyst Holly Berkley Fletcher, author of The Missionary Kids: Unmasking the Myths of White Evangelicalism. Drawing on her experience growing up as a Southern Baptist missionary kid in Kenya, Fletcher explores how the evangelical missionary movement became intertwined with American exceptionalism, racial hierarchy, patriarchy, and Christian nationalism. Together, they examine why missionary culture often functions as a form of spiritual bypassing—allowing white evangelicals to see themselves as heroes abroad while avoiding difficult conversations about racism, power, and injustice at home. The conversation also explores the hidden costs of missionary life, including abuse, isolation, authoritarianism, and the impossible expectations placed on missionary families. Fletcher explains how the same dynamics that have fueled the Southern Baptist abuse crisis and evangelical support for Donald Trump emerge from a culture rooted in fear, certainty, and hierarchy. It's a wide-ranging discussion about faith, identity, and the future of American evangelicalism—and why understanding the missionary movement helps explain some of the most pressing religious and political conflicts in the United States today. The Missionary Kids: https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9798889832034/The-Missionary-Kids If you value independent analysis at the intersection of religion and politics, subscribe to the Axis Mundi Network on Substack at ⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠ for daily briefings, exclusive podcasts, and live events. You can also support our work by becoming a member or making a tax-deductible donation through the Institute for Religion, Media, and Civic Engagement (IRMCE) at ⁠https://www.irmce.org⁠. Subscribe to Axis Mundi Media: ⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠⁠⁠ Support our work: ⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠⁠⁠... Make a tax-deductible donation: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠⁠ Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4M...⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast...⁠⁠⁠ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doug Wilson's recent NPR interview offers a revealing look at how Christian nationalism has moved from the political fringe into the mainstream. In this episode, Brad Onishi and Dan Miller unpack Wilson's arguments about household voting, patriarchy, and the Constitution, showing why his vision represents a fundamental challenge to liberal democracy. They also discuss Ken Paxton's latest controversy, the GOP's continued push to restrict birthright citizenship, and why these stories reveal a broader strategy to reshape American politics around power rather than pluralism. The conversation closes with a surprising discussion of tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson's quest to defeat aging and what Silicon Valley's obsession with optimizing human life says about the limits of technology, the meaning of community, and what it means to be human. If you value independent analysis at the intersection of religion and politics, subscribe to the Axis Mundi Network on Substack at https://axismundinetwork.substack.com for daily briefings, exclusive podcasts, and live events. You can also support our work by becoming a member or making a tax-deductible donation through the Institute for Religion, Media, and Civic Engagement (IRMCE) at https://www.irmce.org. Subscribe to Axis Mundi Media: ⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠⁠ Support our work: ⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠⁠... Make a tax-deductible donation: ⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠⁠ Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4M...⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast...⁠⁠ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why did God allow Satan to punish the biblical character Job, if he was a faithful and righteous man? This is a question that has been asked by Bible readers for centuries. But it’s a question that biblicists and high-control religionists get defensive about. Why? And why does the biblical Book of Job make this question even harder to answer? What does it show us about the shortcomings of high-control religion? Join Dan for this week’s episode to find out! Subscribe to Axis Mundi Media: ⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠ Support our work: ⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com⁠... Make a tax-deductible donation: ⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate⁠ Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...⁠ Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4M...⁠ Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast...⁠ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patriot Front's July 4 march on the National Mall wasn't an isolated stunt—it was part of a long American tradition of extremist groups using patriotic symbolism to claim ownership of the nation's identity. In this episode of Access Live, Brad Onishi and Matthew D. Taylor trace the historical parallels between Patriot Front and the Ku Klux Klan's massive 1925 march in Washington, D.C., explaining how white Christian nationalism has repeatedly cloaked itself in the language of patriotism, religion, and national renewal. They also unpack the critical distinction between theocracy and theonomy and why those concepts matter for understanding today's Christian nationalist movement. The episode also features Congressman Jared Huffman, who discusses his investigation into how the Trump administration reshaped America's 250th anniversary celebration through the creation of Freedom 250, the sidelining of the bipartisan America250 commission, and the promotion of PragerU as part of a broader campaign of historical revisionism and Christian nationalist messaging. Together, the conversation explores the intersection of extremism, religion, corruption, and democracy—and why recognizing these patterns is essential to defending a pluralistic America. Subscribe to Axis Mundi Media: https://axismundinetwork.substack.com Support our work: https://axismundinetwork.substack.com... Make a tax-deductible donation: https://www.irmce.org/donate Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4M... Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast... Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Violence in Nigeria is escalating, and Christians are undeniably among its victims. But does that mean Nigeria is experiencing a "Christian genocide"? In this episode of the Axis Mundi Daily Brief, host Holly Berkley Fletcher examines the growing political narrative surrounding the crisis and asks whether it reflects the realities on the ground. Looking beyond headlines, Holly explores the complex interplay of resource competition, climate change, weak governance, criminal violence, and religious extremism that has fueled years of bloodshed across the country. The episode also explores why the "Christian genocide" narrative has become so influential in American politics, particularly among Christian nationalist leaders and the Trump administration. Holly explains how the stories we tell about persecution shape U.S. foreign policy, humanitarian priorities, and public understanding of global conflicts. By separating evidence from ideology, this conversation offers a deeper look at one of the world's most misunderstood humanitarian crises—and why getting the story right matters. Support independent religion and politics journalism:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com... Donate today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.axismundi.us/fundraise?hs... Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4M... Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast... Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Sunday interview, Brad Onishi is joined by historian and author Warren Throckmorton to discuss his new book, The Christian Past That Wasn't: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack History. Together they examine some of the most persistent myths at the heart of Christian nationalism: that America was founded as a covenant nation, that the colonies' state churches prove the United States is inherently Christian, and that the Founders intended to establish a Christian government. Warren explains why these claims collapse under historical scrutiny while revealing how Christian nationalists flatten centuries of history into a single political narrative designed to justify power today. The conversation also explores the outsized influence of pseudo-historian David Barton, whose revisionist accounts of the American founding continue to shape churches, political leaders, and organizations despite repeated factual debunking. Brad and Warren unpack why these myths persist, how they fuel white Christian nationalism and Christian supremacy, and what is at stake as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary. This is an essential conversation for anyone seeking to understand the historical foundations of today's Christian nationalist movement—and why telling the truth about America's past matters for the country's future. https://www.christianpast.com The Christian Past That Wasn't: https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9798889835820/The-Christian-Past-That-Wasn-t Support independent religion and politics journalism:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com... Donate today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.axismundi.us/fundraise?hs... Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4M... Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast... Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, Brad Onishi and Dan Miller examine how Donald Trump has transformed the semiquincentennial celebration into a showcase for political patronage, executive power, and Christian nationalism. They unpack the controversy surrounding the America250 festivities on the National Mall, including allegations of corruption, the role of PragerU and Hillsdale College in shaping historical narratives, and what the celebration reveals about competing visions of American identity and democracy. The conversation then turns to the Vatican's dramatic excommunication of clergy and members associated with the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), exploring what the schism says about the growing influence of traditionalist Catholicism in American politics and its connections to the broader Christian nationalist movement. Brad and Dan close by discussing the rise of democratic socialists in Congress, what these electoral victories reveal about generational shifts in American politics, and why the future of democracy may depend on who gets to define the nation's story. As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, the nation's semiquincentennial should be a moment for civic reflection, shared history, and democratic renewal. Instead, Donald Trump is transforming the celebration into a political spectacle centered on himself, military power, patronage, and Christian nationalism. In this episode, Brad Onishi and co-host Dan Miller examine how the National Mall and America's founding story are being repurposed to advance a vision of the country rooted in executive power, religious nationalism, and loyalty to one political movement. From corporate influence and political corruption to the growing role of Christian nationalist organizations in shaping the celebration, they ask what happens when a national commemoration becomes a vehicle for ideological power. Brad and Dan also discuss a major story from the world of American Catholicism: the excommunication of a priest associated with the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX). The case offers a window into ongoing tensions over authority, tradition, Catholic identity, and the growing influence of far-right and traditionalist movements within the American Church. The conversation explores how these conflicts intersect with broader political currents, including Christian nationalism and the reshaping of conservative religious activism in the United States. As America approaches its 250th birthday, the stakes are larger than a single event. They concern who gets to tell the nation's story—and what kind of democracy that story will sustain. Subscribe for weekly analysis of Christian nationalism, authoritarianism, religion, democracy, and American politics from the hosts of Straight White American Jesus. Support independent religion and politics journalism:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Donate today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.axismundi.us/fundraise?hsCtaAttrib=215444059319 Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4MbwXJvxp6MoDkmtj?si=a758e87169e74ede⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/1145852/s/400220.rss⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Donate today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.axismundi.us/fundraise?hsCtaAttrib=215444059319 👍 Like this video if you found it valuable. 💬 Join the conversation in the comments. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. #Trump #ChristianNationalism #America250 #Semiquincentennial #NationalMall #AmericanCatholicism #SSPX #Catholicism #Authoritarianism #Democracy #Religion #Politics #Project2025 #StraightWhiteAmericanJesus #BradOnishi #DanMiller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Miller continues the Questions You Weren't Supposed to Ask in Church series by tackling one of the most common—and most unsettling—questions many Christians eventually ask: Why doesn't God perform big miracles anymore? From the parting of the Red Sea to raising the dead, the Bible is filled with spectacular divine interventions. But if God is unchanging, why don't we see those kinds of miracles today? Dan examines the most common Christian response—that God still performs miracles every day in small ways—and explores why that answer often fails to satisfy people wrestling with doubt. In this episode, Dan argues that the "small miracles" explanation creates deeper theological problems than it solves. If God chooses to miraculously heal one person while millions continue to suffer, what does that say about God's goodness? And if miracles are reduced to finding a parking spot or arriving at school pickup on time, does that diminish rather than magnify God's power? Drawing on his experience as a former pastor and on questions from listeners, Dan explores how this issue has led many people to rethink their understanding of God, the Bible, and faith itself. https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4MbwXJvxp6MoDkmtj?si=a758e87169e74ede⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/1145852/s/400220.rss⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Support independent religion and politics journalism:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Donate today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.axismundi.us/fundraise?hsCtaAttrib=215444059319 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court's narrow birthright citizenship ruling has triggered an extraordinary reaction from influential voices on the American right—and the backlash reveals much more than disagreement over immigration policy. In this episode of Axis Live, Brad Onishi, Annika Brockschmidt, and Matthew D. Taylor examine the response from figures including Kevin Roberts, Stephen Miller, Matt Walsh, and Joel Webbon, unpacking what their rhetoric tells us about the future of the 14th Amendment, Christian nationalism, and competing visions of American identity. The conversation explores why this legal battle is far from over and how the movement to redefine citizenship fits into a broader authoritarian political project. The hosts also analyze Texas' decision to mandate Bible readings in public schools, discussing the implications for religious liberty, public education, and Christian nationalism. Finally, they turn to a series of remarkable public appearances by New Apostolic Reformation-linked politicians, including Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith's declaration that Christians should "hate" what God hates and his attacks on Islam. Together, these stories reveal how increasingly radical religious and nationalist ideas are moving from the political fringe into mainstream American public life—and why understanding them is more important than ever. https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4MbwXJvxp6MoDkmtj?si=a758e87169e74ede⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/1145852/s/400220.rss⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Support independent religion and politics journalism:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Donate today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.axismundi.us/fundraise?hsCtaAttrib=215444059319 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Straight White American Jesus Sunday interview, Annika Brockschmidt speaks with journalist and researcher Madeleine Peltz about her years-long reporting on the conservative youth ecosystem and the gendered strategies shaping the modern far right. Peltz, formerly of Media Matters, has spent thousands of hours documenting right-wing media and events like Turning Point USA’s Women’s Leadership Summit—an increasingly influential gathering that blends lifestyle branding, faith language, and political recruitment. Together, they explore how the “pink pill” aesthetic fuses pop culture, wellness, and evangelical-coded messaging to draw in Gen Z women, reframing conservative politics through themes of empowerment, marriage, and “biblical womanhood.” The conversation examines the contradictions at the heart of this movement: conferences that market “women’s leadership” while promoting submission, purity culture, and debates over women’s political participation. Peltz describes the summit as both a recruitment pipeline and a social network, where influencers, field organizers, and Turning Point USA infrastructure work in tandem to shape ideology and identity. From MAHA wellness politics to tradwife influencers and viral culture-war media figures, the episode traces the fracturing and evolution of Gen Z conservatism—and asks what it means when aesthetics, faith, and political strategy become indistinguishable. Good Girls and Alpha Males by Madeline Peltz: https://bookshop.org/p/books/good-girls-and-alpha-males-how-conservative-media-is-targeting-gen-z-madeline-peltz/fe9f4d811b430430 https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠⁠ Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4MbwXJvxp6MoDkmtj?si=a758e87169e74ede⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/1145852/s/400220.rss⁠⁠⁠⁠ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Support independent religion and politics journalism:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Donate today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.axismundi.us/fundraise?hsCtaAttrib=215444059319 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Brad Onishi argues that a series of seemingly separate headlines point to a single political project: the construction of a white Christian homeland. He examines the unprecedented sentencing of the Prairie Land protesters under domestic terrorism charges, the Trump administration's growing use of "Antifa" as a catch-all label for political dissent, Supreme Court decisions affecting Temporary Protected Status, and the continued targeting of Haitian immigrants. Together, Brad argues, these developments reflect an effort to criminalize protest, narrow who belongs in America, and reshape citizenship around the ideals of white Christian nationalism. Brad also breaks down new efforts to restrict voting through the SAVE Act, analyzes the rhetoric of figures like Stephen Miller, Megyn Kelly, and Rep. Tom Emmer, and reflects on what Zohran Mamdani's growing political influence reveals about the future of the Democratic Party. Wrapping up the week, he shares reasons for hope, updates listeners on the launch of Access Daily, and explains why independent, expert journalism on religion and politics is more essential than ever. https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠ Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4MbwXJvxp6MoDkmtj?si=a758e87169e74ede⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/1145852/s/400220.rss⁠⁠⁠ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Support independent religion and politics journalism:⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ Donate today: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.axismundi.us/fundraise?hsCtaAttrib=215444059319 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does God forgive only as much as we forgive? In this episode, Dan Miller explores a listener’s challenging question about the nature of divine forgiveness, justice, and fairness in Christian theology. He examines how high-control religion responds to tough questions and why these core issues matter. How different interpretive frameworks alter understanding of divine forgiveness The relationship between human imperfection and divine perfection The threats and control tactics embedded in religious teachings about justice Why questions of fairness reveal core theological and doctrinal conflicts The broader implications of questioning authority and dogma in faith communities How high-control religion often reacts defensively to challenging questions https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/ Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4MbwXJvxp6MoDkmtj?si=a758e87169e74ede⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠⁠⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/1145852/s/400220.rss⁠⁠ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Support independent religion and politics journalism:⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠⁠ Donate today: ⁠⁠https://www.axismundi.us/fundraise?hsCtaAttrib=215444059319 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Axis Live, Brad Onishi and Matt Taylor are joined by PRRI CEO Melissa Deckman to unpack Vice President JD Vance’s new book Communion and the theological vision animating it. The conversation focuses on Vance’s turn toward a form of Christianity oriented less around the person and teachings of Christ than toward a broader project of Christendom and civilizational restoration. Rather than centering the lived realities of individuals or communities, Vance’s framework is read as prioritizing the preservation and defense of “Western civilization,” raising questions about how political theology can displace core Christian ethical commitments in favor of cultural and national projects. The episode then turns to the underexplored Christian dimensions of the terror plot targeting the White House UFC event, situating it within broader patterns of religiously inflected political violence. The discussion concludes with Melissa Deckman presenting new PRRI data on American religion, emphasizing that claims of a widespread religious revival in the United States are not supported by current evidence. Instead, the data points to continued complexity, fragmentation, and stability in national religious trends rather than a clear resurgence. https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠ Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4MbwXJvxp6MoDkmtj?si=a758e87169e74ede⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/1145852/s/400220.rss⁠⁠⁠ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Support independent religion and politics journalism:⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ Donate today: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.axismundi.us/fundraise?hsCtaAttrib=215444059319 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does American religious history actually tell us about the present moment? In this episode, Brad sits down with historian and author Brook Wilensky-Lanford to discuss her sweeping new book, A God-Shaped Nation: 500 Years of Religion in America. Rather than focusing on famous founders and powerful institutions, Wilensky-Lanford tells the story of America through ordinary people—religious dissenters, immigrants, Native Americans, enslaved Africans, and others whose struggles shaped the nation's understanding of freedom, belonging, and identity. Together, Brad and Brooke explore how figures like Anne Hutchinson, Mary Dyer, Roger Williams, and members of the Native American Church challenged religious domination and expanded the meaning of religious liberty. The conversation also examines the darker side of America's religious history, from the persecution of Japanese American Buddhists during World War II to Supreme Court battles over patriotism, conscience, and the limits of state power. As Christian nationalism continues to reshape American politics, Wilensky-Lanford argues that understanding the country's religious past is essential for making sense of the present. This wide-ranging discussion offers a powerful reminder that the struggle over whose religion counts—and who counts as a real American—has been at the center of the American experiment from the beginning. Subscribe to Axis Mundi on Substack:⁠Axis Mundi Media⁠ Brook Wilenksy-Lanford: A God Shaped Nation? https://groveatlantic.com/book/a-god-shaped-nation/ Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4MbwXJvxp6MoDkmtj?si=a758e87169e74ede⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/1145852/s/400220.rss⁠ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Support independent religion and politics journalism:⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠ Donate today: ⁠https://www.axismundi.us/fundraise?hsCtaAttrib=215444059319 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's Weekly Roundup, Brad Onishi and Dan Miller unpack the fallout from the Trump administration's Iran deal, the growing fractures within the MAGA coalition, and why Vice President JD Vance appears to be carrying the political burden for a foreign policy debacle. They examine the deal's similarities to the Obama-era agreement Republicans once condemned, the tensions between America First isolationists and pro-Israel conservatives, and what Vance's comments reveal about the future of the Republican Party. Along the way, they explore how ideas about masculinity, leadership, power, and political performance shape Trump's approach to governing—and why those approaches are increasingly running into reality. Brad and Dan also discuss the symbolism of Trump's algae-filled Reflecting Pool, the contrast between spectacle and civic leadership, the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, and Zohran Mamdani's appearance at the Knicks championship celebration. What do these competing public rituals tell us about the kind of country Americans want to build? Plus: updates on the launch of Axis Mundi's new daily analysis platform, the Axis Daily Brief, and how you can support independent journalism and public scholarship at the intersection of religion and politics. Subscribe to Axis Mundi on Substack:Axis Mundi Media Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠ Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4MbwXJvxp6MoDkmtj?si=a758e87169e74ede⁠ Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/1145852/s/400220.rss Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Support independent religion and politics journalism:https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/ Donate today: https://www.axismundi.us/fundraise?hsCtaAttrib=215444059319 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are the questions you aren’t supposed to ask in church—the ones that earn you a sit-down with the pastor, worry your parents, and might even make you leave your faith entirely? In this episode, Dan kicks off a brand-new series, "Questions I Wasn't Supposed to Ask in Church," by revisiting a question that got him into trouble during his own time as a pastor: does it really look like human beings were "intelligently designed" by a maximally perfect, omnipotent Creator? While a hypothesis of superhuman design made sense for most of human history, Dan calls b******t on modern creationist claims by looking at the glaring engineering flaws of the human body—from the staggering statistical inefficiency of human reproduction and dangerous choking hazards to the evolutionary mismatch of our metabolic health in modern society. Why does asking whether a supreme designer could have done a better job elicit such vitriolic pushback from theological traditionalists, and how does confronting the sheer implausibility of intelligent design expose the limits of high-control religion? Join Dan to find out. Direct support: ⁠⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new⁠⁠ Tax-deductible donations through our partnering 501c3: ⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Brad Onishi and Matthew D. Taylor break down three major stories shaping the American political and religious landscape: 🔹 The Southern Baptist Convention’s hard-right turn The SBC elected a new president, Willie Rice, and moved to further restrict women in church leadership. What do these developments reveal about the growing influence of Christian nationalist and reconstructionist movements within America’s largest Protestant denomination? 🔹 Trump’s little-known domestic terrorism framework (NSPM-7) A largely overlooked presidential memorandum could dramatically expand the government’s ability to target protesters, activists, and political opponents. Brad and Matt explain what NSPM-7 is, why civil liberties advocates are alarmed, and how it could reshape political dissent in America. 🔹 Exclusive: Gareth Gore on Opus Dei and Pope Leo Investigative journalist Gareth Gore, author of Opus, joins the show to discuss his extraordinary private meeting with Pope Leo, the future of Opus Dei, and what may be a major turning point in the Catholic Church’s relationship with one of its most controversial organizations. 📚 Gareth Gore's book: Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church 📖 Subscribe to the Axis Daily Brief: https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/ 🎙️ Support Axis Mundi Media: https://axismundinetwork.substack.com... ❤️ Make a tax-deductible donation: https://www.irmce.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494 Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4MbwXJvxp6MoDkmtj?si=a758e87169e74ede Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/1145852/s/400220.rss In this episode of the Axis Mundi Daily Brief, Brad Onishi examines the viral comments made by UFC fighter Josh Hokit after his victory at the White House and asks what they reveal about the state of MAGA Christianity and Christian Trumpism. From Hokit's walkout song—"I'm a Real American"—to his comments about Michelle Obama and his public declarations of faith, Brad explores how themes of masculinity, power, conspiracy, transphobia, and Christian nationalism converged in a single moment. Set against the backdrop of Donald Trump hosting a UFC event on White House grounds, the spectacle raises larger questions about the relationship between religion, politics, and the performance of American identity. Brad also considers the symbolism of a president watching fighters compete while international crises unfold, and what this moment says about the political culture that has emerged around Trumpism. Is this simply entertainment, or does it represent something deeper about power, submission, and the future of American democracy? Subscribe to Axis Mundi for daily analysis of religion, politics, culture, and democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if one of the most important political symbols in American evangelicalism isn't a campaign slogan, a policy platform, or a charismatic preacher, but a worship song? In this episode of the Straight White American Jesus Sunday Interview, host Leah Payne speaks with Religion News Service journalist Bob Smietana about his reporting on the unexpected political life of Chris Tomlin's worship anthem "How Great Is Our God." Over the past several years, the song has appeared everywhere from the Capitol Riots to ReAwaken America rallies and Sean Feucht events, to the memorial service for Charlie Kirk. Yet unlike overtly political songs such as "God Bless the USA," "How Great Is Our God" contains no explicit political message at all. So why has it become such a powerful soundtrack for conservative Christian activism? Drawing on his reporting for NPR’s All Things Considered, and Payne’s God Gave Rock and Roll to You: a History of Contemporary Christian Music, Smietana and Payne discuss the rise of “Christian Nashville-ism," the fusion of the worship music industry, suburban evangelical culture, celebrity influence, and political identity. Nashville's Christian music machine has produced a soundtrack so ubiquitous that it now functions as a kind of sacred common language across American Christianity. In an era of political polarization, worship songs provide emotional resonance, spiritual legitimacy, and a sense of collective identity that can easily travel into political spaces. Together, Payne and Smietana explore how contemporary worship music became one of the most influential forms of religious formation in American life. They discuss the rise of Chris Tomlin and the Passion movement, the mainstreaming of charismatic worship practices, the growing overlap between worship culture and conservative politics, and the role of suburban megachurches in shaping modern evangelical identity. The conversation also examines how Christian nationalism often operates less through overt ideology than through atmosphere, familiarity, nostalgia, and music. Why do songs matter so much in political movements? What happens when worship becomes a form of cultural power? And why has a seemingly apolitical worship song become one of the defining sounds of conservative evangelical America? In this episode: Why "How Great Is Our God" has become a fixture at conservative political events The relationship between worship music and conservative activism Nashville's role as a center of evangelical cultural power Chris Tomlin, the Passion movement, and the mainstreaming of charismatic worship How worship music became the dominant language of American Protestantism Charlie Kirk, Sean Feucht, and the politics of sacred music The rise of suburban megachurch culture and its political influence Why contemporary worship songs often succeed where political slogans fail "Comfort food Christian nationalism" and the power of familiarity The overlap between MAGA politics, evangelical identity, and worship culture Links: Bob Smietana's NPR article: “Why an Apolitical Worship Song Has Become Popular With Conservative Activists” Adam Perez: ““It’s Your Breath in Our Lungs”: Sean Feucht’s Praise and Worship Music Protests and the Theological Problem of Pandemic Response in the U.S.” Worship Leader Research Leah Payne’s God Gave Rock and Roll to You: a History of Contemporary Christian Music Bob Smietana Official Website Bob Smietana at Religion News Service Bob Smietana's book, Reorganized Religion: The Reshaping of the American Church and Why It Matters: Axis Mundi is becoming more than a podcast network. We are building the essential newsroom for understanding religion, democracy, extremism, and power in America today. And with your support, we can build it together. Direct support: ⁠⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new⁠⁠ Tax-deductible donations through our partnering 501c3: ⁠⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 This week on Straight White American Jesus, Brad and Dan unpack the GOP’s latest claims of voter fraud in California and show how conspiracy thinking, Christian nationalist spiritual warfare, and anti-democratic rhetoric continue to undermine public trust in elections. Focusing on comments from Donald Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson, they explore how evidence-free allegations of fraud function politically, why California has become a symbolic target, and how narratives of hidden, “unprovable” corruption mirror the logic of both conspiracism and charismatic Christian nationalism. The episode examines what happens when feelings and intuition replace facts, and why attacks on election integrity remain central to the MAGA movement’s political strategy. The conversation then turns to the Trump administration’s unprecedented UFC event at the White House and Pete Hegseth’s controversial D-Day remarks in Normandy. Brad and Dan analyze the UFC spectacle as a symbol of a broader political vision rooted in domination, submission, and conflict rather than democratic deliberation and compromise. They also discuss Hegseth’s embrace of Western civilizational rhetoric and anti-immigrant messaging during a commemoration of the Allied fight against fascism, situating his comments within a larger framework of Christian nationalism, Western chauvinism, and the growing influence of the postliberal right. Along the way, they reflect on America’s declining international standing, the politics of spectacle, and reasons for hope as public resistance to authoritarianism continues to grow. Axis Mundi is becoming more than a podcast network. We are building the essential newsroom for understanding religion, democracy, extremism, and power in America today. And with your support, we can build it together. Direct support: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new⁠ Tax-deductible donations through our partnering 501c3: ⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are the broader takeaways from Josh Hawley’s presentation on “manhood?” How does Hawley’s vision of “masculine America” illuminate the dynamics of high-control Christianity, Christian nationalism, and the broader MAGA movement in America today? What lessons can we learn through engaging Hawley’s vision of masculinity? Join Dan to find out, as we conclude our look at Hawley’s vision of manhood. Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Brad Onishi sits down with Rev. Alba Onofrio, the Executive Director of Soulforce and author of Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena That Defile the Faith. Rev. Alba brings nearly two decades of global activism across four continents to a critical conversation about the exact mechanisms religious systems use to inflict deep psychological and physical harm. Moving past vague concepts of religious trauma, she provides a clear framework that categorizes spiritual harm along a spectrum—ranging from everyday theological microaggressions to full-scale "spiritual terrorism." By defining spiritual terrorism as a sustained, systemic deployment of fear designed to subjugate entire communities, Rev. Alba exposes how weaponized theology acts as an active tool of control rather than an accidental byproduct of faith. The discussion dives into how traditional religious imagery—such as framing God exclusively as a punishing "Father," "King," or "Judge"—subtly normalizes abusive and hierarchical dynamics in families, intimate relationships, and broader civic life. Rev. Alba and Brad unpack how white Christian supremacy shapes what the American context recognizes as violence, using the deployment of Romans 13 during the separation of immigrant families at the U.S. border as a chilling case study in theological terrorism. Crucially, the episode addresses Christianity's historical condemnation of "the flesh," explaining how policing the body strips individuals of their bodily autonomy and self-trust. Ultimately, Rev. Alba shares why she fiercely maintains her faith, arguing that naming these systemic abuses is not a rejection of spirituality, but the vital first step toward true healing, resistance, and collective liberation. Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 This week on Straight White American Jesus, Brad and Dan trace the connections between Trump-era immigration policy, rising far-right extremism, and a growing international movement built around the idea of “remigration.” Beginning with unrest at New Jersey’s Delaney Hall detention center, they examine former ICE official Greg Bovino’s appearance at a European far-right conference and discuss how anti-immigrant rhetoric, Christian nationalism, and white identity politics are increasingly intertwined on both sides of the Atlantic. The conversation explores how language, policy, and political movements reinforce one another—and what it means when American officials and European extremists are drawing inspiration from the same playbook. The episode also dives into new Gallup polling showing declining support for LGBTQ+ rights after decades of gains, particularly among Republicans, and considers how coordinated religious and political campaigns have reshaped public opinion. Brad and Dan connect these trends to battles over schools, charter education, and public funding, while also unpacking Pete Hegseth’s efforts to narrow religious representation in the military chaplaincy. They close with a discussion of free speech, the courts’ response to the “8647” controversy, and several signs of hope—including a federal court ruling protecting transgender service members and the ongoing celebration of Pride Month. Along the way, they share exciting news about the next chapter of Axis Mundi Media, including new live programming, The Daily Brief, and plans to expand independent coverage of religion, democracy, and power. Axis Mundi is becoming more than a podcast network. We are building the essential newsroom for understanding religion, democracy, extremism, and power in America today. And with your support, we can build it together. Direct support: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Tax-deductible donations through our partnering 501c3: https://www.irmce.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley is a dyed-in-the-wool, self-described Christian nationalist. But he’s careful not to make this too obvious in discussion of Christian masculinity and masculine virtue. But if we look past his smoke and mirrors, if look behind the curtain, his Christian nationalism comes through when he talks about role of men as “kings.” Check out this week’s episode as Dan walks us through Hawley’s Christian nationalist vision of America. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, hosts Annika Brockschmidt and Roland Meyer sit down with media scholar Roland Meyer to dissect the unsettling intersection of generative AI, right-wing extremism, and the emerging aesthetics of digital fascism. Meyer, a professor at the University of Zurich, breaks down why AI-generated visual culture is uniquely suited for far-right propaganda. Rather than acting as a neutral mirror of reality, these algorithms are structurally nostalgic—relying on past training data to build idealized, hyper-masculine mythologies, clean ethnic landscapes, and weaponized "slopaganda." From American frontier myths to European Islamophobic imagery, Meyer explains how mass-produced, engagement-optimized AI content is being actively weaponized to construct collective, racist fantasy worlds at an unprecedented scale. The conversation pushes past simple deepfakes to examine the darker political economy and Silicon Valley ideologies underlying the modern tech ecosystem. Meyer and the hosts unpack the rise of "slop"—voted Merriam-Webster’s word of the year—and how algorithmic distribution networks reward dehumanizing depictions of marginalized groups while turning tech leaders into gladiatorial icons. By exploring how figures like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel's Alex Karp, and Charlie Kirk use these tools, the episode exposes a shared tech-authoritarian vision. This ideology frames AI not as a tool for public good, but as an unregulated, masculine force engineered for white, Western dominance, proving that the struggle over generative AI is fundamentally a battle over who controls the future of reality. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Brad Onishi and Dan Miller discuss the Texas Senate race between Trump-backed Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico as a public theological contest between Christian authoritarianism and a Christianity centered on love of neighbor, noting Paxton’s scandals and the right’s misogynistic, transphobic attacks portraying Talarico as weak or deviant. They connect this politics of masculinity and domination to reports that Trump’s DOJ opened (or is attempting to open) a perjury investigation into E. Jean Carroll after Trump was found liable for sexual assault and defamation, framing it as retaliatory weaponization and hostility toward women who “won.” They also preview Axis Mundi’s expansion into live programming, then analyze Pope Leo’s first encyclical on human dignity amid AI, highlighting critiques of homogenization, efficiency-over-dignity, sanctified hatred, and Tolkien imagery, including a reframing of Nehemiah against MAGA wall theology. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley claims to present a “biblical” model of masculinity and masculine virtue. But if we look more closely, it turns out that Hawley’s “Bible” is actually really weird. And so is his model of masculine kingship. And what does “kingship” mean for Josh Hawley? Well, pretty much the same thing you could read in any self-help book. Join Dan for this week’s episode as he tells us why. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, host Brad Onishi sits down with Dr. Liz Bucar, religious ethicist and professor at Northeastern University, to unpack the hidden costs of the modern wellness industry. Exploring themes from her new book, Beyond Wellness: How Restoring the Religious Roots of Spiritual Practices Can Heal Us, Dr. Bucar argues that consumer culture has stripped profound traditions like yoga, mindfulness, and psychedelics into a "spiritual salad bar"—trading real transformation for quick dopamine hits. Through her own raw, firsthand experiences—including a grueling silent Buddhist retreat and a transformative ayahuasca ceremony while processing the grief of losing her father—she illustrates why separating these embodied practices from their ethical, communal roots ultimate leaves us spiritually malnourished. The conversation dives deep into the ethics of cultural appropriation and extraction, questioning how affluent Westerners commodify sacred traditions while the minoritized communities who sustained them struggle to survive. From analyzing Alcoholics Anonymous as the original "spiritual but not religious" program to unpacking a 97-year-old monk's parable on why we fail to find enlightenment, Dr. Bucar and Brad challenge listeners to move beyond self-care and re-engage with true community and obligation. Whether you practice daily meditation, teach yoga, or are simply curious about the intersection of religion and consumerism, this episode is a vital look at what it actually takes to dig a deep spiritual well. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Brad and Dan show up wired, sleep-deprived, and ready to go, breaking down a week where the absurd somehow outpaced the outrageous. They start with a surreal clip of Donald Trump reflecting on his son’s wedding before diving straight into the heart of the episode: a massive DOJ–IRS settlement that includes a $1.8 billion “slush fund” ostensibly for victims of government “weaponization.” The hosts trace how this fund is likely to benefit January 6 participants and allies, connecting it to the long-running “Big Lie” and what Brad calls real-time myth-making. Along the way, they unpack how narratives about January 6 have shifted from condemnation to celebration—and what it means when those narratives are backed by real money and political power. From there, the conversation widens to the broader ecosystem of Trumpism: primary victories that show Trump still holds sway, the endorsement of scandal-plagued figures like Ken Paxton, and the ongoing fusion of political loyalty with religious justification. The episode closes with a sharp critique of billionaire logic, as Jeff Bezos defends his tax record and “value to civilization,” prompting a deeper discussion about inequality, power, and what counts as public good. Even in the midst of it all, Brad and Dan find a few reasons for hope, pointing to court losses for the DOJ and small but meaningful acts of accountability—reminders that resistance, however incremental, is still possible. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout his presentation of manhood and masculine virtue, Josh Hawley assures us that he’s telling us “what the Bible says,” or “what the Bible teaches.” And he’s not alone: biblicist Christians almost always support their claims by assuring us that they’re simply passing along “what the Bible says.” But is it that simple? What else is going on here? How do the claims to merely represent “what the Bible says” operate as mechanisms of control and coercion? How do they serve the interests of Christian nationalism and high-control religion? Check out this week’s episode to find out! Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sunday's nine-hour “Rededicate 250” event on the National Mall brought together politicians and religious leaders calling for America to be returned to God. In this episode, Brad Onishi breaks down key statements from figures like Robert Jeffress, Mike Johnson, Pete Hegseth, and Marco Rubio, exposing how their claims rely on selective history, mythmaking, and a deeply misleading vision of the founding. From the Doctrine of Discovery to the legend of Washington at Valley Forge, the story being told isn’t just inaccurate—it’s strategic. This episode argues that Christian nationalism is not about personal faith or patriotism, but about power: the belief that certain religious identities deserve greater authority in public life. By revisiting the Constitution, the founding era, and the principle of “we the people,” Brad shows what’s actually at stake—religious freedom, democratic equality, and the boundary between church and state. The question isn’t whether religion belongs in American life, but whether the government gets to decide whose religion counts. Subscribe for $3.65:⁠ ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter:⁠ ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠⁠ Donate to SWAJ: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Straight White American Jesus Sunday Interview, host Leah Payne speaks with Jonathan Calvillo, sociologist of religion at Candler School of Theology at Emory University and author of The Saints of Santa Ana, about growing tensions within Latino evangelical and Pentecostal communities over immigration, political representation, and the public platforming of prominent evangelical leader Samuel Rodriguez. The conversation centers on the recent “We Are Not a Monolith” statement issued by Latino pastors, scholars, and ministry leaders calling for greater nuance and accountability in how Latino Christians are represented in national media. Calvillo explains why many faith leaders believe Rodriguez has come to function less as an advocate for vulnerable immigrant communities and more as a defender of Trump-era immigration policies and conservative political networks. Together, Payne and Calvillo explore how ICE raids and immigration enforcement are reshaping Latino churches across the United States, including the emergence of new theological language around persecution, sanctuary, solidarity, and resistance. They discuss the complex political diversity within Latino evangelicalism, the influence of white evangelical megachurch networks on Latino Pentecostal leaders, and the growing tensions between immigrant-majority congregations and prominent conservative evangelical institutions. The episode also examines how Latino evangelical and Pentecostal churches are responding to fear, surveillance, and political polarization in this moment, including new collaborations between immigrant churches, ecumenical groups, and unexpected community allies. Throughout the conversation, Calvillo situates current debates within a longer history of migration, marginalization, religious activism, and public theology in the United States. The “We Are Not a Monolith” statement and the debate over Latino evangelical representation Samuel Rodriguez, the NHCLC, and conservative evangelical political influence ICE raids, sanctuary politics, and immigrant church communities Why some Latino pastors are increasingly using the language of persecution Latino Pentecostalism, MAGA politics, and white evangelical influence The role of megachurch culture, class mobility, and political power Christian nationalism and competing visions of American Christianity New ecumenical and interfaith collaborations emerging in immigrant communities Theologies of protest, resistance, and accompaniment among Latino evangelicals “We Are Not a Monolith” statement: WeAreNotAMonolith.com Samuel Rodriguez, “ICE Is Devastating Some Latino Churches” (Christianity Today): Christianity Today article Christianity Today response to the “We Are Not a Monolith” statement: CT response article Religion News Service coverage: “Latino Christians release letter saying Trump advisor overexaggerated influence” Robert Chao Romero, “We Refuse to Be Comforted: When Prophets Side with Pharaoh”: Theology and Migration article Jonathan Calvillo faculty page: Candler School of Theology Faculty Profile Jonathan Calvillo on Instagram/X: @yocalvillo Jonathan Calvillo’s book, The Saints of Santa Ana: Faith and Ethnicity in a Mexican-Majority City:  Oxford University Press In This EpisodeLinks:Find Dr. Leah Payne at DrLeahPayne.com, subscribe on Substack, follow her on most social media platforms at @drleahpayne, listen along at Spirit & Power: Charismatics & Politics in American Life and Rock That Doesn’t Roll, and read along with God Gave Rock and Roll to You: A History of Contemporary Christian Music. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Brad and Dan dig into another whirlwind week in Trumpworld, beginning with the unveiling of a towering gold-leaf Donald Trump statue at his Doral golf resort and the increasingly explicit fusion of political power, religious symbolism, and personality cult. The hosts unpack Trump’s comments that he does not think about Americans’ financial struggles while simultaneously pushing a pro-natalist agenda alongside figures like RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz. From “under-babied” rhetoric to Heritage Foundation proposals incentivizing marriage and large families, the episode traces how Christian nationalism, wellness culture, patriarchal masculinity, and reactionary family politics are converging into a broader authoritarian vision for American life. Along the way, Brad and Dan connect these themes to neoliberal economics, the collapse of affordable childcare and healthcare, and the deep contradictions at the heart of conservative family policy. The second half of the episode turns to a lawsuit against Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins over religiously coercive emails sent to federal employees, offering a concrete example of how Christian nationalism operates through state power and workplace culture. Brad and Dan examine how the Trump administration simultaneously promotes an “anti-Christian bias” narrative while embedding conservative Christianity into federal governance. They also discuss a new study showing that corporations rolled back DEI initiatives largely due to direct pressure from Trump and his allies, highlighting the administration’s broader effort to reshape public institutions around a narrow vision of American identity. The episode closes with reflections on resistance inside federal agencies, the Supreme Court’s decision not to restrict access to abortion medication, and why ordinary people continuing to assert their rights still offers reason for hope. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite claiming to present us with a “Christian” vision of manhood, there is nothing identifiably Christian about Josh Hawley’s account of masculinity and masculine virtue. Instead, he can define masculinity any way he wants, and call it “Christian.” But there’s a flip side to this. He can also dismiss anyone who disagrees with him, anyone who doesn’t accept his account of masculinity, anyone who opposes his “Christian” vision, as an “atheist.” How does this work for him? Why make this specific move? And what does this tell us about how Christian nationalist envision manhood, and even nationhood? Check out this week’s episode as Dan explains! Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the premiere episode of season five of Our Seven Neighbors: Religion and Resistance in America, host Reza Aslan joins historian and Smithsonian curator Peter Manseau for a sweeping conversation about the real history of religious freedom in the United States. Together, they dismantle the comforting myth that America was founded as a uniformly Christian nation devoted to liberty for all, revealing instead a far more contested and complicated story. From Puritan theocracy and the execution of Quakers to the struggles of Jews, Muslims, Native peoples, and enslaved Africans for recognition and belonging, the episode explores how pluralism in America was not gifted from above, but forged through centuries of conflict, resistance, and negotiation. Drawing on Manseau’s landmark work One Nation, Under Gods, the discussion reframes American religious history as a living, unfinished struggle over who counts, whose beliefs matter, and what freedom truly means in a diverse democracy. Aslan and Manseau examine the enduring power of myths like the “city on a hill,” the dangers of Christian nationalism, and the ongoing fight to widen the circle of belonging in American life. At a moment when religious diversity and democratic pluralism are once again under pressure, this episode offers a powerful reminder that the American experiment has always depended on people willing to challenge exclusion and insist that the story is bigger than any one faith, nation, or identity. Subscribe to O7N: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-7-neighbors-religion-and-resistance-in-america/id1511771313 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Brad Onishi interviews Texas Monthly senior writer Robert Downen about his 12,000-word feature on Paul Pressler, a key architect of the Southern Baptist Convention’s conservative resurgence alongside Paige Patterson. Downen outlines how the takeover, framed around biblical inerrancy, gender hierarchy, abortion, and weakening church–state separation, helped align the SBC with the GOP and built a broader culture-war mindset, aided by sophisticated internal tactics such as tracking pastorates, spying on professors, and manipulating convention rules. He traces Pressler’s privileged Texas lineage and early political training through his grandfather’s Texas Regulars ties and shows how Pressler leveraged SBC power into national influence via the Council for National Policy and Republican politics. The conversation centers on longstanding allegations that Pressler abused young men and how institutional deference and fear of “liberal” attacks enabled silence, shaping SBC responses to the later denomination-wide sexual abuse crisis and ongoing membership decline. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Redistricting Mania and the Christian Nationalist Push for Minority Rule Brad Onishi and Dan Miller discuss the fallout from a recent Supreme Court decision they say further rolled back the Voting Rights Act, triggering aggressive redistricting across states like Louisiana, Florida, Indiana, Virginia, Texas, and Tennessee, including carving up Memphis’s Black-majority district. They highlight Christian nationalist rhetoric from figures such as Kevin Roberts, Indiana Lt. Gov. Brian Beckwith, and Rep. Andy Ogles, and critique Mike Johnson’s repeated “adults in the room” framing as coded defense of white Christian male authority. They trace continuity to Religious Right strategist Paul Weyrich’s explicit anti-democratic voting strategy and argue the Court’s anti-discrimination logic now enables open discrimination while accelerating polarization and democratic erosion. They note a sharp Jackson–Alito exchange over partisan timing, call for reforms like anti-gerrymandering measures and term limits, and cite hope in Mark Kelly’s legal challenge to the Pentagon. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special crossover episode, Dan Miller joins Dr. Laura Anderson on Sunday School Dropouts for an in-depth examination of the ideological forces shaping modern Christian masculinity. The conversation centers on the specific theological frameworks used to justify patriarchal hierarchies, including the elevation of Adam as a model for the masculine ideal over the figure of Jesus. By analyzing recent political literature on the subject, Dan and Laura pull back the curtain on how high control religious groups and secular manosphere influencers overlap. They explore the historical shift toward imperial power within the faith and why certain movements remain obsessed with a mythic, Roman vision of authority that prizes dominance over vulnerability. The discussion further probes the systemic roots of the male identity crisis, looking at how economic instability and social isolation are often exploited to fuel a pipeline toward fundamentalism. Instead of addressing the trauma and insecurity at the heart of these movements, many leaders rely on a rhetoric of blame and aggression. This episode challenges those narratives by seeking out alternative models of manhood rooted in community care and civic action. By focusing on collaborative parenting and the importance of modeling emotional honesty, the dialogue offers a path away from the rigid constraints of the fundamentalist pipeline and toward a more inclusive understanding of identity and strength. Sunday School Dropouts podcast: https://sundayschooldropoutspod.com/ Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Annika Brockschmidt sits down with Adrian Daub, Professor at Stanford University and author of the upcoming book What Tech Calls Governing. Daub provides a searing intellectual history of the vibe shift in Silicon Valley, dismantling the myth that the tech world has undergone a broad political transformation. Instead, Daub argues that we are witnessing the radicalization of a billionaire elite, a small class of men like Marc Andreessen, Elon Musk, and Peter Thiel, who have moved rightward not because of shifting data, but out of a reactionary backlash to post pandemic social pressures and the accountability of the MeToo and BLM movements. By examining the ideological bridge from 1960s counterculture to modern cyberculture, Daub reveals how the hippie to tech pipeline created a foundation for a brand of power that refuses to recognize itself as power, leading to a strange paradox where the world’s most influential men consistently frame themselves as persecuted outsiders. The conversation dives deep into the specific ideologies driving today’s tech giants, from René Girard’s mimetic theory to the biohacking and eugenics adjacent subcultures of the ultra wealthy. Daub offers a brilliant critique of the current AI hype cycle, arguing that framing Artificial Intelligence as an unstoppable force of nature is a deliberate political maneuver designed to bypass regulation and democratic oversight. Beyond the policy, they discuss the revealing and often bizarre aesthetics of the tech elite, such as the AI generated gladiator imagery favored by aging billionaires, which Daub links to a historical fascist obsession with the idealized male form and ego. Looking forward, the duo explores the Palantir problem and the structural flaws in Silicon Valley’s current political bets, while offering a preview of Daub’s next project, Project 1933: Fascism Then and Now, which contextualizes our current moment within the darker chapters of 20th century history. Adrian Daub: What Tech Calls Thinking https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374721237/whattechcallsthinking/ Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s solo roundup, Dan Miller deconstructs a series of aggressive maneuvers by the 47th administration designed to codify Christian nationalism into federal policy. The centerpiece is the newly released report from the Anti-Christian Bias Task Force, an entity Dan argues serves less as a shield for religious freedom and more as a sword against civil rights. By framing standard anti-discrimination protections as inherent attacks on the faith, the administration is effectively creating a legal "red meat" pipeline for its base. This ideological shift is mirrored in the judicial branch, where the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Calle effectively "guts" the remains of the Voting Rights Act. Dan traces the lineage of Justice Alito’s "colorblind" rhetoric back to the Roberts Court, highlighting how the judicial insistence on ignoring race is being weaponized to dismantle Black political representation and broader DEI initiatives. The episode further explores the chilling effect of "MAGA-style" free speech, highlighting the selective weaponization of federal agencies against cultural and political critics. From the FCC’s retaliatory pressure on ABC following a Jimmy Kimmel monologue to the surreal indictment of James Comey over a seashell photo, Miller illustrates a pattern of using law enforcement as a tool for personal grievance. On the border, the administration continues its push for a "White America" through restrictive new visa affirmations and a cynical rebranding of ICE to "NICE"—a move Dan describes as a superficial mask for an agency defined by family separations and systemic harm. However, the episode closes on a note of strategic optimism: as the 2026 midterm elections loom, the GOP’s fixation on cultural grievances over economic affordability suggests a political vulnerability that could shift the national tide. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite his promises, Josh Hawley’s vision of masculinity and masculine virtue is not “Christian” in any definable way. But while this may be surprising, given his Christian nationalist credentials, it actually serves the interests of his ideology not to be distinctly Christian? In what senses? What can be gained by ensuring that claims to “Christian masculinity” aren’t actually Christian? Join Dan for this week’s episode as he explains. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The repeal of the military’s flu vaccine mandate by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth might seem like a minor policy shift, but it opens a window into a much larger movement reshaping American politics, religion, and public health. In this episode, we unpack how vaccine hesitancy—once a fringe concern—has merged with evangelical Christian nationalism, “medical freedom” rhetoric, and the post-COVID backlash to government authority. What looks like a simple choice about a seasonal shot is, in reality, part of a decades-long effort to reframe public health as a matter of individual liberty, religious conviction, and resistance to institutional power. Joined by Dr. Kira Ganga Keefer, an expert on religion and vaccine hesitancy, we explore how this coalition formed, why “mandates” have become the central battleground, and how movements like MAHA and figures like RFK Jr. have accelerated these trends. The conversation also digs into the cultural and theological currents underneath it all—from wellness spirituality and distrust of biomedicine to performances of masculinity and competing ideas of bodily autonomy. The result is a revealing look at how a single Pentagon policy decision reflects a much broader transformation in American life. Unvaccinated Under God: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691224664/unvaccinated-under-god?srsltid=AfmBOorYs5jhjmrT_gLbENztNw8pi4t5zgyZ2hc-0BEimx6VccCHznqi Subscribe for $3.65:⁠ ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter:⁠ ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠⁠ Donate to SWAJ: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this compelling installment of the Sunday Interview, host Brad Onishi engages in a deep-dive conversation with Dr. Tiffany Townsend, a distinguished psychologist and former Chief Diversity Officer, to discuss her timely new book, Weathering the Storm: Navigating the Anti-Social Justice Wave. The episode traces the trajectory of American DEI efforts from the "radical hope" sparked by Barack Obama’s election to the current systemic dismantling of equity initiatives across the country. Dr. Townsend offers a masterclass in historical context, drawing striking parallels between modern anti-DEI legislation and the "Redemption Playbook" used to roll back civil rights gains following Reconstruction. By reframing DEI as an effort to expand the table rather than limit it, she provides a necessary correction to the weaponized narratives currently dominating the cultural landscape. Beyond the political analysis, the discussion delves into the psychological toll of navigating spaces where tokenism and stereotypes—which Dr. Townsend famously likens to inescapable "cigarette smoke in a bar"—persist. The conversation moves from the macro-level of institutional violence and intimidation to the micro-level of personal healing, emphasizing that collective solidarity is the only true antidote to depletion. Dr. Townsend concludes with a powerful definition of "Radical Hope": a grounded, strategic persistence that acknowledges the severity of the current storm while drawing strength from the community and history. This episode is an essential toolkit for anyone looking to move past "checking boxes" toward building genuinely inclusive spaces that can withstand the current political climate. Weathering the Backlash: https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9798889835097/Weathering-the-Storm Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Brad Onishi and Dan Miller discuss the Trump DOJ’s indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center, alleging it defrauded donors by paying informants for access to extremist groups, with charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering; they note legal experts’ skepticism, SPLC’s past cooperation with law enforcement, and argue it reflects MAGA hostility and a Project 2025/Project Esther-style push to label opponents “domestic terrorists.” They then cover Virginia voters approving a redistricting measure projected to shift up to four House seats away from the GOP, now temporarily blocked by a judge, and argue Trump’s mid-decade redistricting push is backfiring as blue states respond. Finally, they analyze Palantir’s manifesto-like summary of Alex Karp’s The Technological Republic, criticizing its anti-pluralism, civilizational hierarchy, and alignment with Christian nationalist politics, and close with court actions overturning a federal gender-affirming-care funding ban and a protestor’s case. 00:00 Indicting the SPLC 01:54 Charges Explained 07:22 Why Conservatives Hate SPLC 14:32 Project 2025 Playbook 18:55 Will the Case Stick 25:18 Break and Reset 25:32 Virginia Redistricting Fight 29:57 Gerrymandering and Opposition 32:56 Talarico Fox News Clip 34:42 Comedy Detour Dating Advice 35:55 Virginia Redistricting Fallout 37:11 Hope Amid Gerrymandering 38:10 SPLC Claims Revisited 39:41 Fondue Clip Goes Viral 41:09 Racism Goes Mainstream 45:27 Palantir Tech Fascism 47:39 Religion Means Christianity 51:44 Civilizational Chauvinism 57:53 Anti Pluralism Manifesto 01:02:06 Hope And Sign Off Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley tells us he’s giving us a vision of Christian “manhood.” But as we near the end of his book on the subject, is he? In this episode, Dan argues that there’s actually nothing specifically Christian about Hawley’s account of manhood at all. In fact, he argues, Hawley goes to length NOT to discuss any specifically Christian themes, even when he comes to the chapter on men as “priests?” So what’s going on? Check out this week’s episode to find out! Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump’s 2 Chronicles Reading and the Politics of Christian Nationalism Brad Onishi discusses an 84-hour marathon Bible reading at the Museum of the Bible tied to U.S. 250th anniversary celebrations, noting that Donald Trump read from the White House rather than attending. He argues it is dangerous that Trump—whom he calls immoral and unfamiliar with scripture—was assigned 2 Chronicles 7:11–22, a passage long used by evangelicals to frame national crisis as divine punishment and to demand repentance, citing examples from Jerry Falwell after 9/11 and a 2 Chronicles prayer at January 6. Onishi walks through the verses to show how they can cast a national leader as a king with a divinely established “royal throne,” linking this to Christian nationalist power politics and pro-Trump messianic imagery. He critiques the spectacle as violating church-state separation and urges leaders to demonstrate civic virtues rather than publicly dictate scripture. Subscribe for $3.65:⁠ ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter:⁠ ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠⁠ Donate to SWAJ: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Straight White American Jesus Sunday Interview, host Leah Payne speaks with journalist Sam Kestenbaum about his reporting on celebrity pastor culture and the rise of the “hype priest.” The conversation centers on Kestenbaum’s widely discussed profile of Judah Smith, a “pastor-to-the-stars” connected to figures like Justin Bieber, and expands into a broader analysis of how millennial pastors have fused evangelical preaching with aesthetics, branding, and media performance. Sam Kestenbaum is a journalist who covers religion in America, known for his deeply reported and stylistically distinctive profiles of contemporary spiritual figures. Based in Los Angeles, his work has appeared in The New York Times, Harper’s Magazine, Rolling Stone, and beyond, where he examines the intersections of faith, politics, and culture. Together, Payne and Kestenbaum explore the Churchome experience in Los Angeles, pop-up worship in rented theaters, a creative-class audience, and a ministry shaped as much by production value and performance as by theology. They discuss how presentation - from clothing to sermon delivery - functions as a form of religious communication, as well as how figures like Judah Smith navigate political polarization by shifting toward a more therapeutic, individualized message. The conversation also maps a wider ecosystem of charismatic influencers, including those who lean more explicitly into conservative politics, and situates today’s media-savvy pastors within a longer lineage of charismatic power brokers shaping American public life. In This Episode Sam Kestenbaum’s profile of Judah Smith and the rise of the “hype priest” The Churchome model: pop-up churches, celebrity culture, and Los Angeles creatives Aesthetics, authenticity, and performance in contemporary evangelical preaching The influence of Black Pentecostal styles on white charismatic leaders Why some celebrity pastors avoid overt political alignment The next generation: influencers, revival tours, and conservative media ecosystems Figures like Greg Laurie and Bryce Crawford in the broader charismatic landscape The enduring influence of leaders like Che Ahn and the question of political power Links: Sam Kestenbaum’s website: https://samkestenbaum.com/ “The Hype Priest Who Rode the Bieber Wave: Judah Smith’s message of grace earned him many famous followers. Is he out of step with other Evangelicals?” (Vulture / New York Magazine): https://www.vulture.com/article/judah-smith-church-pastor-justin-bieber.html  “The Demon Slayers: the New Age of American Exorcisms” (on Greg Locke, Harper’s Magazine): https://harpers.org/archive/2024/08/the-demon-slayers-sam-kestenbaum-exorcisms/  “‘I Think All the Christians Get Slaughtered’: Inside the MAGA Road Show Barnstorming America” (on Clay Clark, Rolling Stone): https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/clay-clark-reawaken-america-maga-tour-trump-1234594574/  Find Sam Kestenbaum at https://samkestenbaum.com/ Find Dr. Leah Payne at drleahpayne.com , subscribe on Substack, follow her on most social media platforms at @drleahpayne, listen along at Spirit & Power: Charismatics & Politics in American Life and Rock that Doesn’t Roll: The Story of Christian Rock, and read along: God Gave Rock and Roll to You: A History of Contemporary Christian Music. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Religion scholars Brad Onishi and Dan Miller recap a week of conflict in which Pope Leo criticized war and bombing in a statement widely read as aimed at the U.S. approach to Iran, prompting a lengthy Trump Truth Social attack and backlash over an AI image of Trump as Jesus. JD Vance and Speaker Mike Johnson told the Pope to “stay in his lane” and invoked just war theory, leading Miller to explain its criteria and argue the Iran conflict fails them; the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a response defending the Pope’s teaching authority and the church’s just war tradition. The hosts frame the dispute as exposing fissures within MAGA Christian nationalism, discuss claims of nationalism turning the nation and leader into God, and analyze Pete Hegseth’s rhetoric and prayer language as further evidence, alongside GOP figures and media urging the Pope to avoid politics while promoting religion in government. 00:00 Pope Versus Trump 01:07 Why Religion Matters 02:03 Iran War And Distraction 03:22 Papal Statement And Trump Blowup 04:16 AI Jesus Backlash 06:37 JD Vance Enters Fight 09:00 Pope Warns War Profiteers 10:14 Mike Johnson Just War Spin 11:53 Just War Theory Explained 15:58 Bishops Rebuke Vance 18:39 Fissures In Christian Nationalism 21:25 Aquinas And War As Evil 27:14 MAGA Splits And Catholic Voters 29:22 Vance Authority Christianity 32:32 Power Theology And Nationalism 35:33 Vance Versus Just War 37:07 Hegseth Pulp Prayer 38:57 Vengeance Voice Swap 44:35 TPUSA Flop Fallout 47:35 Trump As Messiah 52:27 GOP Tells Pope Quiet 56:21 One Way Christian Nationalism 59:16 Who Counts As Christian 01:03:40 Task Force Irony 01:05:35 Reasons For Hope 01:08:40 Discord Hope Stories 01:08:55 Closing Hope Notes Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it mean when cultural and religious conservatives proclaim that they affirm a “culture of life?” We know it means that they oppose abortion and abortion access. But what else does it mean? In this episode, Dan dives in to decode this message to look at the racial, gender, and social positions that are encoded in this seemingly familiar slogan. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Brad Onishi unpacks the escalating clash between Donald Trump and Pope Leo—from Trump’s public criticism of the Pope to the now-viral AI image depicting himself as Jesus. What might seem like another headline-grabbing controversy reveals deeper tensions between political power and religious authority, especially as figures like JD Vance attempt to downplay the conflict while advancing a broader ideological vision. Going beyond the news cycle, this episode explores the concept of “civilizational populism” and how it helps explain the contradictions at play: a movement that invokes Christianity and Western civilization while sidelining actual religious institutions and leaders. By tracing the intersection of theology, nationalism, and political strategy, Onishi offers a framework for understanding why this moment matters—and what it signals about the future of religion and power in American public life. www.axismundi.us Subscribe for $3.65:⁠ ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter:⁠ ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠⁠ Donate to SWAJ: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Brad Onishi is joined by world-renowned New Testament scholar Dr. Bart Ehrman to explore the origins of the Western moral conscience through his latest book, Love Thy Stranger. The conversation challenges the common assumption that altruism is a "natural" human impulse, revealing instead how the ancient Greco-Roman world operated on a logic of social dominance and power. Ehrman traces the evolution of ethics from the specific tribal obligations found in Leviticus to the radical, apocalyptic vision of Jesus, who demanded care for the "stranger" as a universal requirement. By examining how this revolutionary Jewish framework was later institutionalized by the early church and the Roman Empire, they uncover why modern Westerners—regardless of their personal faith—still view charity and humanitarianism as a moral imperative. The discussion also dives into the practical friction between Jesus’ universalism and Paul’s communal ethics, providing a fascinating historical roadmap of how Christian morality became the baseline for Western civilization. From the communal sharing models in the book of Acts to modern-day secular institutions like Doctors Without Borders, Ehrman argues that our contemporary "moral software" is deeply rooted in 1st-century radicalism. To ground these lofty concepts, Ehrman shares a poignant personal reflection on the community response to Hurricane Helene near his home in Asheville, NC, illustrating how these ancient ethical seeds continue to bear fruit in times of modern catastrophe. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, Brad Onishi navigates a high-stakes intersection of nuclear brinkmanship and theological crisis. The discussion centers on the fallout of Operation Epic against Iran, specifically Pete Hegseth’s assertion that God deserves "all the glory" for the military strike. Brad deconstructs this "Fox News theology," forcing a confrontation with the classic problem of evil: if a victory is divine, how does one account for the collateral damage of a bombed girl’s school? This moral tension coincides with a potential fracture in the MAGA coalition, as even staunch media allies like Joe Rogan and Alex Jones begin to voice public concern over Trump’s threats to Iranian civilization and the looming specter of nuclear winter. The episode then shifts to an explosive diplomatic confrontation between the Pentagon and the Vatican. Guests Dr. Thomas Lecaque and Rebecca Bratten Weiss join the show to unpack a bombshell report detailing a meeting where Under Secretary Elbridge Colby allegedly pressured Cardinal Christopher Pierre to align with U.S. interests. By invoking the Avignon Papacy—a historical period where the papacy was essentially held captive by the French monarchy—the administration issued what Lecaque describes as a "mafia-style threat" to the Holy See. The panel explores the doomed fantasy of Catholic integralism and the burgeoning rift between those following the teachings of Jesus and those weaponizing faith for geopolitical dominance. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley tells us that blue-collar and manual labor are the domains of true masculinity. He tells us that they are the path to freedom, and meaning, and purpose. He tells us that men have no social value if they do not undertake this kind of work. But is any of this true? Does this kind of work bring us the freedom he claims? Is he really the voice of “working men?” Or is he another elitist who benefits from the exploitation of workers while masquerading as a liberator? Dan argues that this is the real story. Listen to this week’s episode to find out why. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, we sit down with New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez for a wide-ranging conversation about his office’s landmark case against Meta and what it reveals about the dangers embedded in today’s social media platforms. At the center of the case is “Issa,” a fictional teenage user created as part of an undercover operation that exposed just how quickly young users can be targeted with explicit content and sexual solicitations. Torres walks us through how what once existed in the darkest corners of the internet has migrated onto mainstream platforms—and how Meta’s own algorithms and product design not only failed to stop it, but in some cases appeared to amplify it. By focusing on design choices rather than user-generated content, Torres and his team were able to sidestep Section 230 protections and argue that the platform itself plays an active role in facilitating harm. The conversation also explores the broader implications of the case, from the addictive nature of social media to its parallels with Big Tobacco. TorreZ argues that waiting for definitive long-term studies on harm is a luxury we can’t afford, pointing instead to the immediate psychological, social, and physical risks facing young users. Looking ahead, he outlines potential remedies—including age verification, algorithmic reform, and independent oversight—as well as ongoing litigation against other platforms like Snapchat. The discussion closes with a warning about the next frontier: artificial intelligence. Without clear accountability and proactive regulation, Torrez suggests, the harms posed by AI could eclipse those of social media. This case, then, may represent not just a legal victory, but the beginning of a broader shift toward tech accountability in the United States. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Annika Brockschmidt sits down with historian AJ Bauer to dismantle the long-standing myth that the "liberal media" narrative was a natural reaction to biased reporting. Bauer, drawing from his book Making the Liberal Media, traces a century-long strategic project that began not with an outcry against progressivism, but with conservative efforts in the 1930s and 40s to flip a then-right-leaning press. From the grassroots mobilization of oil tycoon HL Hunt’s Facts Forum to the calculated exploitation of the Fairness Doctrine, Bauer reveals how the American Right didn't just abandon mainstream journalism—they systematically built a parallel media universe by borrowing tactics from the very progressive reformers they claimed to oppose. The conversation dives deep into the ideological split between William F. Buckley’s quest for respectability and the John Birch Society’s alternative infrastructure, showing how both paths converged to create the modern conservative media machine. Bauer explains how the "objectivity imperative" of the 20th century actually left mainstream journalists vulnerable to right-wing pressure, forcing them to constantly look over their "rightward shoulder" to prove their lack of bias. By the time the Fairness Doctrine was abolished in 1987, the groundwork had been laid for the rise of Rush Limbaugh and Fox News, ultimately transforming conservative media from a movement tool into an independent power source that paved the way for the Trump era. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, hosts Brad Onishi and Dan Miller unpack a chaotic and revealing week at the intersection of politics, religion, and power. As Donald Trump once again compares himself to Jesus during the lead-up to Easter, the hosts explore what they see as a deepening pattern of religious distortion within MAGA Christianity—where theological consistency gives way to political loyalty. The conversation situates Trump’s rhetoric alongside broader trends, including a controversial decision tied to U.S. Supreme Court on conversion therapy laws and mounting concerns over religious favoritism within the Pentagon under Pete Hegseth. Together, these developments paint a picture of a movement increasingly defined by power, hierarchy, and ideological purity rather than coherent moral or theological principles. The episode also dives into the implications of an 8–1 Supreme Court ruling that weakens state-level bans on conversion therapy, raising urgent questions about free speech, medical ethics, and the vulnerability of LGBTQ+ individuals. Onishi and Miller highlight the emotional and political weight of the decision, especially amid rising hostility toward queer and trans communities. They close with a discussion of the scandal surrounding Kristi Noem and her husband, using it as a lens to push hypocrisy, gender norms, and the authoritarian logic of “order” that underpins Christian nationalism. Despite the heaviness of the topics, the hosts end with cautious optimism, pointing to signs of political pushback and everyday acts of resistance as reasons for hope. Subscribe for $3.65:⁠ ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter:⁠ ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠⁠ Donate to SWAJ: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode two of One Million Neighbors brings us to the chaotic final days of Saigon in April 1975, as ten-year-old Simon Hoa-Phan watches his world unravel. From the terror of nighttime bombings to the desperate crush of families fleeing toward evacuation helicopters, Simon’s story captures the fear, uncertainty, and life-altering decisions faced by thousands as South Vietnam fell. His family’s escape—narrow, chaotic, and uncertain—becomes a window into a much larger phenomenon: the mass displacement of millions across Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, where war, political upheaval, and U.S. intervention forced entire populations to flee under harrowing conditions. At the same time, across the world in St. Paul, Minnesota, Kathleen Vellenga witnesses these events from a hospital bed and feels a call to act. Her personal turning point reflects a broader movement among American faith communities, who would go on to play a central role in resettling more than a million Southeast Asian refugees. This episode traces the historical roots of that movement—from Cold War politics and moral responsibility to deeply held religious convictions—and introduces the ordinary people who made extraordinary choices to welcome strangers as neighbors. Dr. Melissa Borja is Associate Professor of American Culture and Director of the Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies at the University of Michigan. Trained at Harvard, the University of Chicago, and Columbia, she is a historian of migration, religion, race, and politics and author of Follow the New Way: American Refugee Resettlement Policy and Hmong Religious Change (Harvard University Press), which won the the Thomas Wilson Memorial Prize, the Frank S. and Elizabeth D. Brewer Prize from the American Society of Church History, and the Outstanding Achievement Award in History from the Association for Asian American Studies. Dr. Borja has advised Princeton's Religion and Forced Migration Initiative as well as the Bridging Divides Initiative, which tracks and mitigates political violence in the United States. An expert on anti-Asian racism during the Covid-19 pandemic, she leads the Virulent Hate Project and has contributed research to Stop AAPI Hate. In honor of her research and advocacy about Asian Americans, USA Today honored her as one of its 2022 Women of the Year. This podcast is part of AAPI Stories of Faith & Life, an Asian Pacific American Religions Research Initiative (APARRI) project funded by Lilly Endowment Incorporated.  www.axismundi.us Executive Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi Producer: Andrew Gill Original Music, Composition, and Mixing: Scott Okamoto Production Assistance: Kari Onishi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley says that men are called by God to work. In fact, he says that working is the source of God’s image within men. But what counts as “work” for Hawley? And what dogmas about work and the value of men drive his account? And how do issues like economic change and the climate crisis inform his thinking? Check out Dan’s discussion this week to find out! Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Onishi introduces One Million Neighbors, a new limited series hosted by Melissa Borja. The episode opens in the Twin Cities—Minneapolis and St. Paul—where a sweeping federal immigration crackdown has transformed daily life. In early 2026, thousands of ICE agents flooded the region as part of a massive enforcement operation, conducting raids, stops, and detentions that left communities on edge and sparked protests, school closures, and economic disruption. At the center of this episode is the story of a U.S. citizen violently detained in his own home—an incident that captures the fear, confusion, and anger rippling through neighborhoods under what local leaders have described as a federal “siege.” But One Million Neighbors is not only about this moment—it’s about another one. The series reaches back to the 1970s, when many of these same communities became an epicenter of refugee resettlement, as ordinary Americans—often motivated by their faith—helped welcome more than a million people from Southeast Asia despite widespread opposition. By placing today’s ICE raids and deportation debates alongside that history, the show asks a deeper question: how did a nation once defined by radical hospitality arrive at a moment of mass enforcement—and what might it look like to choose a different path again? One Million Neighbors: https://redcircle.com/shows/1525ddb6-2be4-4115-b45f-25bbcabf6749https://redcircle.com/shows/1525ddb6-2be4-4115-b45f-25bbcabf6749 Subscribe for $3.65:⁠ ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter:⁠ ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠⁠ Donate to SWAJ: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Onishi sits down with therapist and author Jay Stringer to explore his new book Desire, a deep dive into how we form identity, intimacy, and meaning in a world shaped by shame and disconnection. Jay reflects on his upbringing as a pastor’s kid immersed in evangelical purity culture, including harmful messaging around sexuality reinforced by spaces like Liberty University. Together, they unpack how teachings that equate arousal with sin create lifelong shame cycles, especially for young men, and how cultural artifacts like Every Man's Battle reinforced these patterns. The conversation introduces the concept of differentiation—borrowed from biology—as a key to healthy relationships, using the metaphor of a symphony to illustrate how individuality enables deeper intimacy rather than threatening it. From there, Brad and Jay broaden the lens to examine what it means to live a meaningful life in 2026. Drawing on thinkers like Annie Dillard and Albert Camus, they explore how meaning emerges not in spite of life’s absurdity, but in response to it. They discuss the stories we inherit, the “provisional selves” we construct, and the midlife invitation to interrogate what we’ve been taught to value. The episode also tackles masculinity and vulnerability, arguing that domination and hyper-masculinity often mask unaddressed trauma, and that true connection requires risk and emotional honesty. Ultimately, they frame defiance—not despair—as the path forward: a refusal to believe our lives don’t matter, and a commitment to building lives rooted in connection, purpose, and resistance to dehumanizing cultural forces. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Onishi and Dan Miller unpack a series of troubling developments surrounding Pete Hegseth’s vision for the military chaplaincy, where chaplains may soon wear only religious insignia instead of rank and operate within a drastically reduced set of approved faith codes. The hosts explore how Hegseth’s language—framing the role as a mission to “preach the truth,” “shepherd the flock,” and fulfill a “sacred calling”—signals a distinctly Christian nationalist framing of military service, reinforced by his claim that the armed forces have been “infected by political correctness and secular humanism.” They place this in historical context, noting how Japanese American Buddhist soldiers in World War II were denied adequate chaplain support despite serving in one of the most decorated units in U.S. history. The conversation also touches on reporting about Hegseth’s crusader imagery, including tattoos and a Bible stamped with “Deus Vult” and the Jerusalem Cross, raising deeper concerns about the ideological direction of military leadership. The episode then shifts to a controversial Pentagon prayer calling for “overwhelming violence” and the damnation of “wicked souls,” which the hosts connect to a broader pattern of rhetoric that glorifies brutality and frames military action in theological terms. From there, Brad and Dan examine the near-religious devotion to tax cuts within the GOP, highlighting reporting that red states are facing massive budget shortfalls as a result of Trump-backed policies—yet lawmakers continue to support them as a matter of ideological commitment rather than evidence. They close by discussing Trump’s absence from CPAC, the unease among attendees regarding Iran, and the irony of Trump mailing in his ballot despite his long-standing opposition to mail-in voting, underscoring what they describe as a deeply transactional and contradictory approach to politics. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley says that the crisis of masculinity in America is due to the fact that men won’t work. And the reason they won’t work, he assures us, is because liberal elites have convinced them not to. But what does Hawley overlook to tell this story? How does he ignore his own status as a cultural elite, and his political party’s support of economic policies that favor the elites? What is Hawley hiding behind his appeals to masculinity? Listen to this week’s episode and Dan will fill you in! Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of Straight White American Jesus features Brad Onishi unpacking a central claim gaining traction on the political and religious right: that the American presidency was always meant to function like a monarchy. In light of the nationwide “No Kings” protests, Onishi challenges arguments from figures like Michael Knowles and Adrian Vermeule, who suggest that the founders embedded a “kingly” executive into the Constitution. He traces how thinkers drawing on Thomas Aquinas use the language of the “common good” to justify stronger, more centralized authority—potentially at the expense of democratic participation and individual rights. The episode ultimately argues that this reframing of American government is not just historical revisionism, but a strategic effort to normalize authoritarian leadership under religious justification. By contrasting these claims with the founders’ explicit rejection of monarchy, Onishi underscores the stakes of the current moment: whether democracy remains a shared project rooted in the will of the people, or gives way to a model where power is consolidated in a single figure claiming moral authority. The call to “No Kings,” then, becomes not just a protest slogan, but a defense of democratic principles against rising theocratic and authoritarian visions of governance. Order American Caesar: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/american-caesar-bradley-b-onishi/1148909845?ean=9781250427922 Subscribe for $3.65:⁠ ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter:⁠ ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠⁠ Donate to SWAJ: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Straight White American Jesus Sunday Interview, host Leah Payne speaks with award-winning journalist and historian Caleb Gayle about his acclaimed book Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State. Caleb Gayle is an award-winning journalist and professor at Northeastern University. He is the author of We Refuse to Forget: A True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity, and Power and a contributing writer at The New York Times Magazine. His work has also appeared in The Atlantic, TIME, The Guardian, Guernica, The New Republic, and The Boston Globe. Longlisted for the National Book Award for Nonfiction, named one of The Washington Post’s Best Nonfiction Books of the Year, and selected as a New York Times Editors’ Choice, Black Moses tells the remarkable story of Edward McCabe, a Black political leader who nearly succeeded in founding a Black-governed state in the Oklahoma Territory at the turn of the twentieth century. Together, Payne and Gayle explore McCabe’s ambitious political vision, the racial politics of the American West, and the broader historical context of Reconstruction, westward expansion, and Indigenous displacement. The conversation also reflects on how forgotten stories like McCabe’s challenge familiar narratives about American democracy, race, and political imagination. In this episode: The cinematic structure of Black Moses and how Gayle and his editor shaped the narrative Who Edward McCabe was and why his story has largely disappeared from mainstream American history McCabe’s audacious plan to create a Black state in the Oklahoma Territory The Reconstruction-era search for Black self-determination and how McCabe’s vision differed from projects in Liberia or Haiti The American West as a site of competing dreams—and conflicts—among Black settlers, white settlers, and Indigenous nations McCabe’s political strategy: organizing, coalition building, and attracting Black migration to Oklahoma Why Oklahoma ultimately aligned itself with Jim Crow politics during statehood The unfinished project of American democracy and the importance of political imagination Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State by Caleb Gayle Can the Rodeo Save a Historic Black Town? One woman’s quest to rescue Boley, Oklahoma, The Atlantic, by Caleb Gayle In This EpisodeLinks: We Refuse to Forget: A True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity, and Power by Caleb GayleFind Professor Gayle at www.calebgayle.com, Instagram: @calebgayle, Twitter: @gaylecalebFind Dr. Leah Payne at drleahpayne.com, subscribe on Substack, follow her on most social media platforms at @drleahpayne, listen along at Spirit & Power: Charismatics & Politics in American Life & Rock that Doesn’t Roll: the Story of Christian Rock, and read along: God Gave Rock and Roll to You: A History of Contemporary Christian Music. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Welcome back to Straight White American Jesus. In this episode, Brad Onishi and co-host Dan Miller dig into the resignation of Joe Kent and the unraveling narrative around Iran. Kent’s claim—that Iran posed no imminent nuclear threat—directly contradicts statements from figures like Mike Johnson and exposes what the hosts see as a familiar pattern: shifting justifications, vague timelines, and a disregard for expertise in favor of political loyalty. The conversation traces how dissent from within MAGA ranks—especially from someone like Kent—signals fractures in the movement, even as those critiques are quickly dismissed by Donald Trump. For Onishi and Miller, the deeper issue is a political culture where intelligence, experience, and even firsthand knowledge of war are subordinated to rhetoric, loyalty, and “feelings” about national security. The episode then widens its lens, connecting foreign policy to a broader “culture of death” that the hosts argue defines the current political moment. From Pete Hegseth’s blunt justification that “it takes money to kill bad guys” to the rhetoric emerging from his religious circle—where his pastor Brooks Potteiger and podcast host Joshua Haymes discussed James Talarico in terms that included prayers for his death and suggestions he should be “stopped by any means necessary”—Onishi and Miller highlight a throughline of violence, dehumanization, and theological justification for harm. They argue that this kind of language—casting opponents as enemies of God or demonic threats—creates a moral framework where violence becomes not just acceptable but righteous. The result is a dangerous fusion of nationalism, militarism, and extremist theology, where political disagreement is reframed as spiritual warfare and the stakes are nothing less than life, death, and the future of American democracy. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the end of his chapter on men as “warriors,” we finally get to his full vision of what a “warrior” is. What does Hawley have to tell us? Is there anything specifically “war-like” about his warriors? Or anything specifically Christian? Or even anything particularly masculine. Not so much, as it turns out. As Dan argues in this episode, Hawley’s really just in it for the culture war. Take a listen and check it out! Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Brad Onishi takes on a provocative question: is James Talarico really a “liberal Christian nationalist,” as critics on both the right and left have claimed following his primary victory over Jasmine Crockett? Drawing on the widely cited definition from sociologists Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry, the episode breaks down what Christian nationalism actually is: a fusion of Christian and American identity, a belief in divine sanction for political domination, and a moral framework that privileges Christians as uniquely legitimate citizens. Onishi argues that simply being a religious politician—or even using theological language in public debate—does not meet this threshold, pushing back on claims from figures like William Wolfe and C.J. Engel, as well as critiques from scholars like Heath Carter. Through close analysis of Talarico’s own words and political theology, the episode contends that his emphasis on pluralism, the separation of church and state, and universal human dignity stands in direct opposition to Christian nationalist ideology. Rather than advocating for a theocratic state or privileging Christians above others, Talarico frames his faith as a call to inclusive democracy and care for all neighbors. Onishi warns that labeling figures like Talarico as “Christian nationalists” risks flattening important distinctions and obscuring the anti-democratic aims of actual Christian nationalist movements. The result is a deeper exploration of how faith can show up in politics without undermining democracy—and why precision in our language matters now more than ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In this Sunday Interview, Bradley Onishi sits down with historian Matthew Avery Sutton to discuss his sweeping new book Chosen Land. Sutton argues that from the colonial era onward, Americans have pursued a centuries-long project to transform North America into a “holy land” that could usher in God’s millennial kingdom. Paradoxically, the founders’ decision to create a secular Constitution and protect religious freedom through the First Amendment helped fuel the explosive growth and innovation of American Christianity. Without a state church, religious leaders became entrepreneurs—competing for followers through media, technology, and spectacle—helping make the United States far more publicly religious than many other Western democracies. The conversation explores how a long-standing Protestant cultural dominance shaped American politics and public life, from Abraham Lincoln navigating religious expectations in the 19th century to Barack Obama confronting controversy over Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Sutton also explains the decline of mainline Protestantism, the rise of evangelical branding, and why the very term “evangelical” is largely a modern reinvention rather than a continuous tradition stretching back to figures like Jonathan Edwards. The episode closes with a look at today’s Christian nationalism, culture-war politics, and apocalyptic thinking—from debates about Israel to interpretations of global conflict—asking whether the United States is witnessing the last gasp of white Protestant dominance or simply another revival in a long and turbulent religious history. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 On this episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad Onishi and Dan Miller dive headfirst into the Trump administration’s approach to Iran—and the deeper worldview shaping it. They examine the escalating conflict, the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, and the administration’s apparent failure to anticipate Iran’s most obvious leverage point. But beyond the geopolitics, Brad and Dan argue that something larger is at play: a model of “MAGA masculinity” that prizes action over thought, rejects expertise, and treats diplomacy and long-term relationships as weakness. From Pete Hegseth’s press conferences to the firing of intelligence experts and counter-terrorism staff, they trace how a culture that glorifies brute force and disdain for knowledge can produce catastrophic decision-making—with real human costs. In the second half of the show, the conversation turns to newly released depositions from former DOGE officials tasked with slashing federal grants. The clips reveal young operatives with little expertise making sweeping cuts based largely on whether projects referenced feminism, LGBTQ people, or racial minorities—raising serious questions about the real meaning behind the administration’s war on “DEI.” Brad and Dan connect these revelations back to their broader theme: a governing philosophy rooted in domination, resentment, and the rejection of intellectual or moral accountability. They close by asking whether the Iran conflict could fracture the MAGA coalition ahead of the midterms—and by reflecting on what healthier forms of masculinity, leadership, and public responsibility might look like in contrast. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The third role Josh Hawley tells us that men are called to play is that of “warrior”? But what does that mean? Where might we look for an exemplar? One of Josh Hawley’s answers is another Joshua, the figure from the Hebrew Bible, tasks with reclaiming the “Promised Land” for the Israelites. But the biblical book of Joshua commands the “utter destruction” of the inhabitants of the land, raising profound concerns about genocide and ethnic cleansing. Is this really the model of masculinity Hawley says we should follow? Listen to this week’s episode to hear Dan’s discussion of how Hawley responds, and what this tells us about “manhood” as he imagines it. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Annika Brockschmidt sits down with historian Thomas Zimmer for a wide-ranging conversation about the politics of history in the age of Trumpism—and why Zimmer ultimately decided to leave the United States after years teaching at Georgetown and return to Germany with his family. Reflecting on the increasingly hostile climate for scholars and public commentators, Zimmer discusses how harassment, threats, and the broader erosion of democratic norms shaped that decision. From there, the conversation turns to a deeper historical question: how the Trump administration and its intellectual allies are attempting to reshape the story Americans tell about their past. Brockschmidt and Zimmer analyze recent speeches and rhetoric from figures like Donald Trump, JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and Senator Eric Schmitt, arguing that the contemporary right is moving away from the traditional language of American ideals toward a vision rooted in ancestry, heritage, and “blood and soil” nationalism. They place this rhetoric in historical context, tracing the long-running conflict between civic and ethnic visions of American identity—from the nation’s founding through the Civil Rights era and into today’s MAGA movement. The result, they argue, is not simply partisan messaging but a broader political project aimed at redefining who counts as a “real” American and rolling back the pluralistic aspirations that emerged from the civil rights revolution. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad Onishi and Dan Miller break down the Trump administration’s military action against Iran and the political and religious rhetoric surrounding the conflict. They examine the contradictions in Republican messaging, with some officials describing the action as a war while others insist it is not. Brad and Dan also discuss the lack of a clear public justification similar to what preceded previous conflicts like Iraq and Afghanistan, the internal divisions within the MAGA coalition over foreign intervention, and the growing criticism coming from prominent conservative voices. The conversation also explores how Christian nationalist rhetoric is being used to frame the conflict, with several political and religious leaders describing the situation in explicitly religious terms or invoking biblical responsibility toward Israel. Brad and Dan contrast these narratives with dissenting voices within conservative and Catholic circles who oppose military escalation. The episode also turns to the Texas primary results, including James Talarico winning the Democratic Senate nomination, record Democratic turnout, and the high profile Republican runoff between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton. Together, these developments highlight ongoing fractures within the Republican coalition and shifting political dynamics heading into the next election cycle. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Posner sits down with New York Magazine senior writer Sarah Jones to unpack the accelerating assault on transgender rights in Kansas and beyond. They trace how a new Kansas law retroactively invalidating updated gender markers on driver’s licenses fits into a broader, decades-long Christian right strategy—one that cloaks theological convictions in the language of “common sense” and “biology.” From spiritual warfare rhetoric in statehouses to Supreme Court signals about religious motivation, Posner and Jones explore how anti-trans legislation operates as both a wedge issue and a cornerstone of a hierarchical gender ideology rooted in patriarchy, biblical literalism, and political calculation. They connect these state-level efforts to federal actions under Trump—from executive orders to agency guidance on bathroom bans—and examine how figures like Pete Hegseth and his mentor Doug Wilson frame masculinity, authority, and power. The conversation widens to consider how anti-trans politics intersects with abortion criminalization, punitive theology, and the rise of pronatalism across MAGA and NatCon spaces. They analyze the confirmation hearing of Surgeon General nominee Casey Means, whose blend of anti–birth control rhetoric, “sacred fertility” language, and pseudoscientific wellness ideology has sparked backlash—even from Christian right influencers like Erick Erickson, who denounced her as dabbling in witchcraft. Posner and Jones probe the uneasy coalition between evangelical patriarchy and MAHA-style new age conspiracism, asking whether this radicalized right-wing alignment can outlast Trump—or simply mutate into something more extreme. The episode closes with Posner’s Anti-Doom segment, highlighting federal judges—some Trump-appointed—who are forcefully pushing back against unlawful immigration enforcement, reminding listeners that the constitutional order still has defenders. Sarah Jones is an award-winning senior writer for New York Magazine, where she covers religion and national politics. She serves on the editorial board of Dissent Magazine, and was previously a staff writer for The New Republic. Her first book, Disposable: America's Contempt for the Underclass, is available now from Avid Reader Press. She is based in Brooklyn.  Disposable by Sarah Jones: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Disposable/Sarah-Jones/9781982197438 Creator: Sarah Posner: https://www.sarahposner.com/ Producer and Engineer: Dr. Ger FitzGerald Executive Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi Production Assistance: Kari Onishi Generous funding provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley informs us that one of the distinctive roles men are called to play is that of “warrior.” But what, exactly, makes a warrior? What are the distinctively masculine “warrior virtues” men are called to live out? It turns out that Hawley’s answers to these questions are not what we might expect. In fact, it’s not clear what, precisely, makes a “warrior” at all. Listen to this week’s episode as Dan explains. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MAGA Christians are splitting over Donald Trump’s strike on Iran, with high-profile voices like Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, and Marjorie Taylor Greene arguing the move betrays “America First” principles. For them, foreign intervention—especially on behalf of Israel—undermines the nationalist, anti-entanglement ethos that fueled Trump’s rise. Some Catholic and post-liberal thinkers, including Edward Feser and Sohrab Ahmari, have also criticized the action as strategically incoherent and politically dangerous. This wing of the coalition views the conflict not as a divine mandate but as another costly overseas engagement that risks American lives without clear national benefit—raising fresh questions about Trump’s alignment with the movement he leads. At the same time, influential charismatic leaders such as Lance Wallnau and Sean Feucht interpret the Iran conflict through an apocalyptic lens, tying it to biblical prophecy, Purim imagery, and end-times theology. Rooted in strands of premillennial evangelicalism, this faction sees Israel as central to God’s unfolding plan and views confrontation with Iran (ancient Persia in biblical narrative) as prophetically significant. The result is a theological and political fracture inside MAGA: one camp prioritizes nationalist restraint and geopolitical realism, while the other embraces a providential vision that frames war as part of a larger divine drama. How Trump navigates this divide could shape not only his coalition’s unity but the future direction of Christian nationalism in American politics. Subscribe for $3.65:⁠ ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter:⁠ ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠⁠ Donate to SWAJ: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In this episode of Straight White American Jesus: The Sunday Interview, Brad Onishi speaks with CNN Chief Investigative Correspondent Pamela Brown about her new documentary examining Christian nationalism, the rise of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), and the growing influence of Idaho pastor Doug Wilson. Brown discusses her viral interview with Wilson, her reporting from Moscow, Idaho, and how Christian Reconstructionist theology is gaining mainstream political visibility. The conversation explores Christian nationalism’s connection to classical Christian schools, patriarchal theology, and its alignment with contemporary conservative politics. The documentary also centers the voices of survivors who left CREC-aligned and other Christian nationalist communities. Women share firsthand accounts of spiritual abuse, rigid gender hierarchy, and authoritarian church structures that made leaving extraordinarily difficult. Brown and Onishi examine how movements promising certainty, biblical order, and “traditional values” have expanded in the wake of COVID-19 and cultural polarization. This interview offers critical insight into Christian nationalism, church and state debates, religious extremism, and the future of American democracy. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad Onishi and Dan Miller break down the spectacle and subtext of the recent State of the Union. While the speech itself felt predictable—long on grievance, short on substance—the real story lies in what surrounded it: questions about presidential mental acuity, the resurfacing of Epstein-related controversies, renewed attacks on Hillary Clinton, and escalating federal retaliation against so-called “blue states” like Minnesota. Brad and Dan explore how retribution politics, culture war theater, and the weaponization of “fraud” narratives are shaping the administration’s strategy—often at the expense of basic governance and public trust. Then the focus sharpens. With ICE planning a $38 billion expansion of detention infrastructure, Brad and Dan confront what they argue is the normalization of a nationwide network of camps—and the Christian leaders defending it. Analyzing figures like William Wolfe and Kevin Roberts, they expose the theological sleight of hand at work: “order” elevated above human dignity, “our people” defined in narrowing ethnic and national terms, and violence reframed as righteousness. This isn’t abstract theology—it’s a moral justification for mass detention and exclusion. The episode names it plainly and challenges listeners to reckon with what kind of Christianity, and what kind of country, is being built in its name. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley argues that men are called to be fathers, and that fatherhood is defined by sacrificing oneself. But is it? Should it be? Why does high-control religion demand “sacrifice,” and how does Hawley’s account of masculinity reinforce these demands? How does he use this demand for sacrifice to demonize those who don’t share his social vision? And how do appeals to sacrifice mask the interests that lie behind his vision of masculinity? So many questions—take a listen to this week’s episode to hear the answers. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this brief episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad Onishi dissects a revealing interview between Tucker Carlson and Mike Huckabee, using it as a window into the growing rift inside the MAGA coalition. At the center of the clash is a theological and political divide: Christian Zionism versus a rising strain of Christian anti-semitism - nationalist, isolationist populism that increasingly traffics in anti-Jewish tropes. Brad unpacks how debates over Genesis 15, biblical land claims, and U.S. foreign policy toward Israel expose deeper fractures—ones that pit older religious right leaders like Huckabee against a younger, more conspiratorial wing associated with figures such as Candace Owens and Marjorie Taylor Greene. The result is a struggle over theology, nationalism, and who truly defines “America First.” Brad also explores how the Epstein files, Gaza, and the language of “protecting children” are being weaponized within this intra-MAGA battle. On one side stands a Christian Zionist framework that collapses biblical covenant, modern nation-state politics, and unconditional U.S. support for Israel. On the other stands an isolationist populism that critiques foreign aid and military alliances but often slips into conspiratorial and antisemitic rhetoric. Neither camp, Brad argues, offers a healthy path forward. Instead, this moment reveals how theology, demographics, generational divides, and media ecosystems are reshaping the American right in real time—and why the consequences extend far beyond Israel policy alone. Subscribe for $3.65:⁠ ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter:⁠ ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠⁠ Donate to SWAJ: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Melissa Deckman, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and political scientist specializing in gender, religion, and public opinion, joins host Leah Payne, author of God Gave Rock and Roll to You: A History of Contemporary Christian Music (Oxford University Press, 2024) and host of Spirit & Power: Charismatics & Politics in American Life. In this Sunday interview, Leah Payne talks with Dr. Melissa Deckman about PRRI’s February 2026 release of findings from the 2025 American Values Atlas—a massive nationwide survey (22,000+ adults across all 50 states) that maps the reach of Christian nationalism and its intersections with race, religious practice, party, geography, age, education, media trust, and attitudes toward political violence. Deckman explains what PRRI means by “Christian nationalism,” why PRRI measures it with a five-item scale (instead of asking people whether they identify with the label), and what the data can—and cannot—tell us about religion and politics in the U.S. today. Mapping Christian Nationalism Across the 50 States (Insights from PRRI’s 2025 American Values Atlas) Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation (Matthew D. Taylor / Axis Mundi Media) Right Wing Watch on Sean Feucht and federal partnerships tied to America’s 250th anniversary programming Dara Delgado, “Black Pentecostal and charismatic Christians are boosting their visibility in politics — a shift from the past” Melissa Deckman, The Politics of Gen Z: How the Youngest Voters Will Shape Our Democracy,(Columbia University Press) Melissa Deckman, School Board Battles: The Christian Right in Local Politics, (Georgetown University Press) Ansley Quiros, Ph.D., PRRI Spotlight: Why Black Americans Identify as Christian Nationalists: Religiosity, Theology, and History Matter Michael R. Fischer Jr., PRRI Spotlight, Understanding Differences Between Black and White Christian Nationalism Adherents and Sympathizers Links and resources mentionedFind Dr. Melissa Deckman at PRRI, LinkedIn, Substack and BlueSkyFind Dr. Leah Payne at drleahpayne.com, subscribe on Substack, follow her on most social media platforms at @drleahpayne, and listen along at Spirit & Power: Charismatics & Politics in American Life, and Rock that Doesn’t Roll: the Story of Christian Rock Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Doug Wilson’s appearance at a Pentagon prayer service hosted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is more than a symbolic moment—it’s a window into the kind of Christianity being elevated at the highest levels of American power. Wilson, a self-identified Christian nationalist and longtime pastor in Moscow, Idaho, has built an influential religious and media network rooted in a theology that centers male authority, rejects pluralism in the public square, and frames “Christ is King” as a political claim over the nation itself. His record—documented by journalists like Brian Kaylor and Sarah Stankorb—includes defending rigid patriarchal structures, opposing women’s suffrage, limiting public religious freedom to conservative Protestantism, and mishandling abuse cases within his orbit. That this theology is now platformed inside the Pentagon, amid ongoing fallout from the Epstein scandal and broader debates about power, sexuality, and accountability, raises urgent questions about what kind of moral vision is being fused with state authority—and who it protects. At the same time, CBS’s decision not to air Stephen Colbert’s interview with Texas State Representative James Talarico—an outspoken Christian critic of Christian nationalism—reveals the other side of the equation. Talarico, a seminary student and public school teacher, argues that separating church and state protects both democracy and the integrity of Christian faith. His warning that Christian nationalism is “a cancer on my religion” stands in sharp contrast to Wilson’s vision of public Christianity. The juxtaposition is stark: a hardline theocrat welcomed at the Pentagon, and a soft-spoken Christian democrat sidelined from broadcast television. Together, these events underscore a growing dynamic in American public life—where the state appears increasingly willing to privilege one brand of religion while marginalizing dissenting voices, even within Christianity itself. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley argues that “modern-day Epicureans” abandon all notions of “history, family, home, and tradition.” He argues that without these, humans have no identity, and that these “Epicureans” have no real sense of who they are. But is this true? Does everyone who disagrees with Hawley’s understanding of the human person lack any identity? And do “history, family, home, and tradition” really define us completely? Join Dan for this week’s episode and find out! Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the history of this moment is written, Minneapolis may take its place alongside Selma, Stonewall, and Harper’s Ferry—a name synonymous with resistance. In this episode, Matthew Taylor and Susie Hayward return to American Unexceptionalism to reflect on what has unfolded in the Twin Cities over the past two months: mass ICE deployments, escalating authoritarian tactics, and a powerful, community-rooted response. Drawing from the streets of Minneapolis and St. Paul, they explore what frontline resistance looks like in real time, how religious leaders have stepped into both pastoral and prophetic roles, and why this moment feels like the full activation of both Trump-era authoritarian impulses and an American resistance movement finding its footing. This conversation serves as a postlude—and a reckoning—with the themes of American Unexceptionalism. Lessons once drawn from Sri Lanka, South Korea, Brazil, and beyond are now being lived out at home, faster and more intensely than expected. Taylor and Hayward unpack why Minneapolis became the flashpoint, how multifaith and multigenerational organizing has changed the terrain, and what these experiences can teach communities across the country preparing for what may come next. The message is urgent and clear: what’s happening in Minneapolis is coming for the rest of America—and the time to learn, organize, and build the relationships needed to defend democracy is now. Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is a visiting scholar at the center on Faith and Justice at Georgetown University. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation. Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace’s efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. www.axismundi.us Executive Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi Producer: Andrew Gill Original Music and Mixing: Scott Okamoto Production Assistance: Kari Onishi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Andrew Whitehead joins Brad Onishi to discuss his groundbreaking research revealing a disturbing connection: Christian nationalism is one of the strongest predictors of discrimination against Americans with disabilities. As the Trump administration slashes protections, funding, and civil rights for disabled people, from dismantling DEIA efforts to appointing RFK Jr. to HHS, this conversation exposes the theological and ideological roots of ableism in the Christian nationalist movement. Whitehead's peer-reviewed research shows that those who embrace Christian nationalism are three times more likely to believe we've "done enough" for people with disabilities and twice as likely to say disabled Americans "demand too much." The discussion traces these attitudes through Project 2025, prosperity gospel theology, and the historical fusion of Christian nationalism with free-market capitalism that elevates economic productivity as the measure of human worth. This episode challenges listeners to confront how certain strains of Christianity have interpreted disability as divine punishment or an opportunity for charity, rather than recognizing structural barriers that demand collective responsibility. From religious school vouchers that exclude disabled students to the dangerous myth that autism is spreading like a disease, Whitehead and Onishi reveal how the imagined "ideal American body" in Christian nationalist ideology is explicitly straight, white, native-born, and able-bodied. The conversation offers a powerful counter-vision through theologians like Nancy Eiesland, who reimagined God as disabled, and calls for Christians to vote for policies that truly value all people, not just prayers, but action. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In this episode of Straight White American, Jesus, we unpack the unraveling of Pam Bondi’s moral rhetoric under the weight of the Epstein files. Bondi once ran campaign ads promising to protect children from trafficking “monsters,” yet when Epstein survivors stood behind her in a hearing room, she refused to turn around and acknowledge them. Pressed about Donald Trump’s and Howard Lutnick’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, she lashed out at questioners and deflected to stock market numbers. The hypocrisy is hard to miss: a movement that built its identity on “saving the children” now treats actual survivors as political inconveniences. When Jared Moskowitz held up the Trump-branded Bible and noted that Trump’s name appears in the Epstein files more times than God’s appears in Scripture, the exchange crystallized the contradiction—commodified faith, selective outrage, and a refusal to confront abuse when it implicates one’s own side. We also turn to the Twin Cities, where clergy and neighbors continue resisting ICE operations on the ground. As Axios reports, faith leaders are organizing prayer circles, serving as human shields, and explicitly naming Christian nationalism as incompatible with the teachings of Jesus. The theological divide is stark: Christian nationalists invoke Romans 13 to defend “state-authorized violence,” while progressive clergy center the red-letter teachings—love your neighbor, protect the least of these—even when it puts them in harm’s way. From the politics of the Epstein files to the culture-war meltdown over Bad Bunny’s Spanish-language Super Bowl performance, the throughline is clear: whose America is this, and whose lives count? As always, we follow the code. Subscribe for $3.65: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Subscribe to our free newsletter: https://swaj.substack.com/ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley identifies the defining roles men are called to play in order to exercise their “masculine virtues.” The second of these is that of father. What are the virtues Hawley thinks fathers embody? And are they really virtues that only fathers can embody? And exactly what kind of a man can even be a father? Finally, how do Hawley’s answers to these questions reveal the ideology at work in his account of “manhood”? Join Dan as he answers these questions in this week’s episode. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new American Caesar: Now Available for Pre-Order HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Straight White American, Jesus, we dig into the disturbing revelation that James Dobson’s name appears among the Epstein files. :Why would Epstein recommend a James Dobson article to a young woman he was grooming—and what does that reveal about Dobson’s theology of family, gender, authority, and forgiveness. Drawing on the work of DL Mayfield and others, the episode unpacks how Dobson’s advice reframes abuse, minimizes male responsibility, and shifts moral and emotional labor onto women—precisely the kind of framework that predators find useful. From there, the conversation moves beyond the email itself to a larger, under explored connection: Dobson’s influence in post-Soviet Russia and how American evangelical “family values” helped shape the ideological foundations of Putin-era authoritarianism. Tracing Dobson’s reach through Focus on the Family, the World Congress of Families, and Russian Orthodox moral politics, the episode shows how a shared logic of patriarchy, control, and unquestionable authority links Dobson, Epstein, and Putin—not through coordination, but through a common worldview. The through line is power without accountability, and the devastating consequences of theological and political systems that teach people—especially women and children—that their bodies are not their own. Subscribe for $3.65 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new American Caesar: Now Available for Pre-Order HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, host Annika Brockschmidt is joined by historian https://substack.com/@sethcotlar Dr. Seth Cotlar, professor at Willamette University, for a deep dive into the long history of right-wing extremism in the United States and how it migrated from the political fringe into the heart of the Republican Party. Drawing on decades of archival research, Cotlar explains how white Christian nationalism, antisemitism, and “blood and soil” ideology have shaped conservative politics far longer than many people realize. Rather than seeing today’s extremism as something new or accidental, this conversation traces clear throughlines from McCarthy-era paranoia to the Trump movement, showing how narratives about “real Americans” versus internal enemies have been refined and normalized over time. The discussion also explores how structural changes helped remove the guardrails that once kept extremists at the margins. Cotlar unpacks the role of partisan media, social platforms, and weakened political institutions in amplifying radical ideas, alongside case studies like Walter Huss, an Oregon Republican leader who quietly fused Christian Identity theology with party politics from the inside. The episode examines the mainstreaming of antisemitic conspiracies, from George Soros tropes to Holocaust denial references, and the rise of “heritage American” rhetoric rooted in blood-and-soil nationalism. By connecting historical movements to contemporary figures and language, this conversation offers essential context for understanding how extremist ideas gain legitimacy and why they continue to shape American politics today. SWAJ Contributor Annika Brockschmidt Seth Cotlar Subscribe for $3.65 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new American Caesar: Now Available for Pre-Order HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Weekly Roundup, Brad Onishi and Dan Miller unpack the National Prayer Breakfast and what it revealed about the collapsing boundary between religion and state power in the Trump era. They analyze Paula White’s over-the-top praise of Trump, Trump’s own religious illiteracy, and his threats to weaponize tax-exempt status against critics, all while positioning Democrats as incapable of genuine faith. The conversation highlights how these moments reflect a broader push toward state-controlled religion and the dangers that poses to democratic pluralism. The episode also examines the racial and cultural flashpoints shaping the current moment, from Trump’s reposting of a racist video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama, to Speaker Mike Johnson’s theological defense of ICE and mass deportation. Brad and Dan break down how scripture is distorted to justify ethnonationalism, what they call “ICE-egesis,” and how figures like Stephen Wolfe are reshaping Christian nationalism. The episode closes with a look at Super Bowl culture wars, contrasting evangelical counter-programming with Bad Bunny’s public resistance, and exploring how Christian parallel culture has shifted from evangelism to exclusion. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new American Caesar: Now Available for Pre-Order HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley argues that America’s restoration can only come as men develop and exercise their unique, God-given masculine virtues and the play their assigned roles in society (the first of these is husband). This is a patriarchal vision of America that most Americans would reject, so he softens the presentation of his high-control religious vision to try to make it seem less radical, more inviting, and more inclusive. But by softening his message, he actually shows readers what he most wants to hide: There is no such thing as a kinder, more inclusive expression of high-control religion. Join Dan this week as he takes a look. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Sarah Posner examines Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s escalating campaign to remake the Pentagon in the image of a militant, hyper-masculine Christian nationalism—from dismantling small-business contracting as “DEI,” to purging diversity programs, hosting monthly Christian prayer meetings inside the Pentagon, and framing U.S. military power as divinely sanctioned. As Trump rattles the global order with threats against NATO allies and Greenland, Posner traces how Hegseth’s theology and politics blur the lines among biblical law, domestic authority, and international norms—raising urgent questions about religion, war, and state power. Posner is joined by Dr. Julie Ingersoll, professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Florida and author of Building God’s Kingdom, for a deep dive into the radical Christian Reconstructionist movement shaping Hegseth’s worldview. They unpack the influence of Doug Wilson and the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, including beliefs about biblical law, patriarchy, Christian dominion, and a “God of war” theology that legitimizes violence and conquest. The conversation explores how once-fringe theocratic ideas have quietly moved into the corridors of power—and what it means when U.S. military leaders see themselves as carrying out God’s will, at home and abroad. Julie Ingersoll is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, where she teaches and writes about religion in American culture, with a particular focus on religion and politics and the religious right. Originally from Maine, she earned a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, along with degrees in history from George Washington University and political science from Rutgers College. She began studying religion as an undergraduate because of her interest in politics, which she saw as deeply intertwined with religious life—an understanding that only deepened as her studies continued. More about Dr. Ingersoll: https://julieingersoll.weebly.com/about.html Additional Resources: Julie Ingersoll, Building God’s Kingdom: Inside the World of Christian Reconstruction (New York: Oxford University Press, 2015) Julie Ingersoll, “Why the religious beliefs of Trump defense pick Pete Hegseth matter,” The Conversation, December 12, 2024, https://theconversation.com/why-the-religious-beliefs-of-trump-defense-pick-pete-hegseth-matter-245601 Brian Kaylor, “Hegseth Shares War Psalm He Prayed During Venezuela Attack,” A Public Witness, January 21, 2026, https://publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/hegseth-shares-war-psalm-he-prayed Brian Kaylor, “At Pentagon Christmas Service, Franklin Graham Praises ‘God of War’,” A Public Witness, December 17, 2025, https://publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/at-pentagon-christmas-service-franklin Government Worship Watch, A Public Witness, https://publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/government-worship-watch “The Christian nationalist pastor with ties to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth,” CNN, August 8, 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/08/politics/video/christian-nationalist-doug-wilson-pam-brown-digvid Creator: Sarah Posner: https://www.sarahposner.com/ Producer and Engineer: Dr. Ger FitzGerald Executive Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi Production Assistance: Kari Onishi Generous funding provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad is joined by Sarah Moslener, author of After Purity: Race, Sex, and Religion in White Christian America and creator of the Pure White podcast. Together, they explore purity culture not as a narrow fixation on teenage abstinence, but as a powerful religious and political system that has long shaped ideas of belonging in the United States. Moslener traces purity culture back to 19th-century slavery, Victorian gender norms, and Protestant theology, showing how it functions to define “good bodies” and “bad bodies,” determine moral worth, and police the boundaries of citizenship. White womanhood, in particular, emerges as a national symbol of innocence and virtue that has been central to sustaining racial hierarchy and social control. The conversation turns to how these myths are playing out in the present, from the aesthetics and behavior of women aligned with Trump-era politics to the legal and media treatment of women involved in January 6. Brad and Moslener examine how white innocence is protected when it reinforces authority and withdrawn when it challenges power, contrasting the treatment of compliant figures with white women who resist authoritarianism and women of color who face state violence. From ICE raids to the killing of Renee Good, the episode highlights how authoritarian systems rely on fear, spectacle, and constantly shifting lines between “good” and “bad” to enforce obedience. The discussion ultimately underscores the high cost—and the necessity—of defecting from whiteness in moments of moral and political crisis. Subscribe for $3.65 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/ Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad Onishi—author of American Caesar: How Theocrats and Tech Lords Are Turning America into a Monarchy —is joined by co-host Dan Miller, Professor of Religion and Social Thought at Landmark College. They begin by unpacking the ongoing ICE operations in Minnesota, framing the federal crackdown as a clash between authoritarian state power and a deeply organized, nonviolent response by ordinary Minnesotans. Drawing on political theory and on-the-ground reporting, Brad and Dan argue that what’s unfolding in the Twin Cities is not a partisan skirmish but a vivid example of democracy in action: neighbors mobilizing to protect one another against coercion, violence, and the erosion of basic rights. The conversation then turns to two deeply troubling developments with national implications. First, they examine the killing of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse and legal gun owner, and the Trump administration’s sudden hostility to Second Amendment arguments—revealing how rights are selectively applied depending on political loyalty. Finally, they analyze the FBI raid on a Georgia election office, tracing its roots to Trump’s refusal to accept the 2020 election results and warning of the chilling precedent this sets for future elections. Taken together, these stories reveal a pattern: the criminalization of dissent, the dehumanization of political opponents, and an accelerating effort to use state power to intimidate, suppress, and control. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like many right-wing commentators, Josh Hawley argues that men’s use of pornography represents one of the most significant and pervasive social ills plaguing American society. What dangers does he believe pornography poses? And what does this fear of pornography reveal about the religious ideology expressed in his thought? What do his views reveal for us about American high-control religion? Check out this week’s episode to find out! Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josiah Hesse grew up in northern Iowa during the farm crisis of the 1980s, a moment of economic collapse, rising poverty, and quiet desperation across the rural Midwest. In this episode, he joins Straight White American, Jesus to talk about his new memoir, On Fire for God: Fear, Shame, Poverty, and the Making of the Christian Right. Through his family’s story—parents who poured everything into a prosperity-gospel church, even giving dollar-for-dollar what they earned—Hesse traces how faith, trauma, and economic pressure collided in a home and a church marked by dysfunction, scandal, and exploitation. What emerges is not a caricature, but a deeply human portrait of people searching for meaning, stability, and hope in a system that ultimately consumed them. Our conversation moves from the intimate to the national, mapping Hesse’s personal journey onto the rise of the Christian Right from the 1980s to today’s Christian nationalist movement. We talk about fear of the end times, purity culture, religious trauma, sexuality, and the long road out of evangelicalism—alongside the compassion required to reckon honestly with the people and places that shaped him. Hesse, a journalist based in Colorado, brings unflinching analysis and rare empathy to a genre crowded with deconversion stories, showing how the forces that shaped his childhood are now shaping our public square. Subscribers can stick around for an extended discussion on how his story illuminates the political and moral crises we’re living through right now. www.axismundi.us www.straightwhiteamericanjesus.com Hesse, On Fire for God: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/721105/on-fire-for-god-by-josiah-hesse/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Straight White American Jesus digs into the Minnesota church protest that’s been framed as “anti-Christian”—and explains why that framing collapses on contact. Brad Onishi and Dan Miller connect the dots between City’s Church, ICE, Doug Wilson’s theological orbit, and the ideology behind The Sin of Empathy, showing how a strain of Christian nationalism produces pastors who see no contradiction between pulpit ministry and state violence. What looks like an isolated protest turns out to be part of a much larger story about power, theology, and the weaponization of “law and order,” with unsettling links that stretch from Minneapolis to Washington, D.C. From there, the conversation widens to the ICE occupation of the Twin Cities, the general strike, and the moral backlash unfolding across religious lines—Catholic clergy, mainline Protestants, and everyday residents standing watch in subzero temperatures to protect their neighbors. Brad and Dan confront the human cost of these policies, including the detention of a five-year-old child and the warrantless arrest of a U.S. citizen, and ask what it means when empathy itself is declared a sin. The episode closes by zooming out to Davos, Trump’s open flirtation with dictatorship, and what it means to live in a moment of rupture—not transition—where democracy is being tested not in speeches or elections, but in the streets. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley identifies six roles that men are called to play. The first is that of “husband.” But what, exactly does that mean? And what is the point or purpose of marriage? For Hawley, marriage holds the promise of countering all the evils that confront contemporary American society. But who, exactly, is called to play this role of husband? And how can marriage possibly be everything Hawley says that it is? And perhaps most importantly, why does he argue that marriage is so significant? Listen to this week’s episode as Dan dives into these issues. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MLK Day, Postliberalism, and the Assault on Civil Rights On Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026, Brad Onishi reflects on the legacy of civil rights in a moment when those rights are under unprecedented threat, one year into Donald Trump’s second term. From Trump’s humiliating and dangerous letter asserting U.S. control over Greenland to the escalation of ICE abuses in Minnesota, this episode argues that the core idea of civil rights—inalienable human dignity promised to all—has entered a period of open attack. Drawing on King’s own words, Brad frames civil rights not as radical demands, but as a fight for what the United States has always claimed to promise: equality under the law, due process, and freedom regardless of race, religion, immigration status, or identity. Brad then introduces the real engine behind this moment: postliberalism. Joined by theologian and political theorist Dr. David Congdon, the episode unpacks how postliberal movements—rooted in both Christian theology and Silicon Valley technocracy—reject liberal democracy, individual rights, and pluralism in favor of hierarchy, authoritarian power, and state-enforced moral order. From JD Vance to Catholic integralists to tech elites dreaming of CEO-rule, these movements converge in their hostility to democracy and civil rights. This conversation situates Trump’s second term as the first sustained experiment in federal postliberal rule, explaining how backlash to the Civil Rights Movement itself helped fuel today’s authoritarian turn—and why understanding postliberalism is essential to grasping what is happening to American democracy right now. David Congdon, Who is a True Christian? https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/who-is-a-true-christian/2DA88468C8824BD55EBE9AE94CFCDF73 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad and Dan examine the escalating ICE presence in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Renee Good, situating the operation within a broader pattern of authoritarian governance under the Trump administration. They unpack how federal immigration enforcement has begun to resemble occupation style tactics, including minimal vetting of ICE agents, sweeping immunity claims for officers, and the use of overwhelming force in civilian spaces. Drawing on historical parallels to fascist regimes and social psychology experiments like the Stanford Prison Experiment, the conversation explores how power, dehumanization, and impunity reinforce one another when federal agencies are weaponized against dissent. The episode also interrogates the gendered and racial dynamics at play, particularly the demonization of white women protesters framed by right wing media as dangerous or hysterical. Brad and Dan discuss how white femininity functions within white Christian supremacy, why Renee Good’s identity as a queer woman posed a threat to patriarchal power, and how Fox News and Christian nationalist figures have celebrated or justified state violence. The conversation widens to include federal overreach beyond immigration, including pressure on the Department of Justice to investigate Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, threats to institutional independence, and the administration’s seizure of Venezuelan oil revenue. Throughout, the hosts connect these developments to a coherent ideological project rooted in Christian nationalism, racial hierarchy, and authoritarian control, warning that the expansion of state power rarely stops with its initial targets. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley offers us a story about men, masculinity, and American society. But his patriarchal vision, with its appeals to Rome and medieval Christendom, is not a popular story—it’s not a story that most Americans are eager to hear. So how does Hawley try to make that story more attractive? How does he make it feel more inviting and reasonable? He does it the same way other storytellers might—he creates antagonists that an audience will hate and fear. Check out this week’s episode to hear more. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Straight White American, Jesus, Brad Onishi kicks off 2026 by unpacking a new framework that helps make sense of the escalating cruelty, chaos, and seemingly self-destructive moves of the Trump administration—from ICE violence in Minnesota to threats against Greenland and Venezuela. Drawing on a recent paper by scholars Stacey Goddard and Abraham Newman, Brad introduces “neo-royalism”: a vision of power that rejects democracy in favor of loyalty to a sovereign, enforced by political, economic, and military elites. This theory, Brad argues, clarifies Trumpism as a project of extraction, hierarchy, and domination rather than governance, and mirrors the core argument of his forthcoming book, American Caesar: How Theocrats and Tech Lords Are Turning America into a Monarchy. Brad shows how neo-royalism operates both abroad—through tariffs, territorial threats, and deal-making with other strongmen—and at home, where protection, funding, and even basic rights are treated as rewards for loyalty to the king. He connects this logic to Christian nationalism’s shift from nostalgia for the 1950s to a far older vision rooted in monarchy, divine right, and exclusion, where cruelty is justified and institutions are dismantled because they limit absolute power. The episode closes with updates on the show’s expanded 2026 plans, including new long-form Sunday interviews and the launch of Reign of Error with Sarah Posner, plus an invitation to subscribers to dive deeper into how neo-royalism, Christian nationalism, and authoritarian politics are reshaping the American experiment. Goddard and Newman, https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-organization/article/further-back-to-the-future-neoroyalism-the-trump-administration-and-the-emerging-international-system/ABB12906CA345BBCA5049B544363D391 Reign of Error: https://redcircle.com/shows/fbed712f-0027-40af-a33b-fd9de05efc5chttps://redcircle.com/shows/fbed712f-0027-40af-a33b-fd9de05efc5c Subscribe: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad returns from a two week break to examine three disturbing stories that reveal how authoritarian power is expanding in the United States and how empathy is being systematically stripped from public life. He begins with the killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, a white American poet and mother shot by an ICE officer during an operation. The administration’s response was marked by complete indifference, with officials offering no compassion for Good or her family and JD Vance asserting that the officer should have absolute immunity. Brad argues this case represents a dangerous shift. The logic of impunity long applied to marginalized communities is now being extended outward, signaling that anyone can become a target once state violence is normalized. The episode then turns to the U.S. operation in Venezuela and Trump’s escalating threats toward Greenland. In Venezuela, Trump openly framed the military action around oil interests rather than democracy, reviving a Monroe Doctrine style vision of hemispheric control rooted in Christian and Western supremacist ideology. Threats toward Greenland further signal an imperial mindset that would shatter NATO alliances and dismantle the post World War II international order. Across all three stories, Brad traces a consistent theme. Empathy is treated as an obstacle to power, impunity is expanding, and figures like JD Vance are refining a more polished authoritarian message for the future. The result is a political project that no longer seeks separation or retreat, but expansion, domination, and the erosion of democratic restraint. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad Onishi is joined by the Reverend Angela Denker to discuss the killing of Renee Nicole Good by ICE in Minneapolis on January 7th. As video footage circulates and national leaders offer sharply conflicting accounts—from Minnesota officials describing an unjustified killing to figures like JD Vance and Kristi Noem framing it as lawful self-defense—the episode centers on the human cost of gaslighting and state-sanctioned violence. Denker, a Minneapolis resident who lives near the site of the shooting, offers an on-the-ground account of the aftermath: canceled schools, traumatized children, vigils and protests, and a city once again forced to grieve amid gaslighting and cruelty from those in power. Drawing on her experience as a Lutheran pastor, journalist, and leading critic of Christian nationalism, Denker reflects on courage, solidarity, and the widening scope of state-sanctioned violence. Together, she and Onishi explore why this killing—of a white American woman—has jolted public consciousness, even as similar violence has long been inflicted on Black, Indigenous, and immigrant communities. The conversation situates Minneapolis’s response within its history of resistance, faith-based organizing, and collective care, while naming the lie that white supremacy protects anyone. This episode is a raw, urgent meditation on grief, truth-telling, and the moral stakes of this political moment—and a call to remember Renee Nicole Goode not only in death, but in the fullness of her life and humanity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley wants us to believe that his vision of manhood and masculinity comes from the Bible, and specifically from its first book, Genesis. But does it? If it’s supposed to come from Genesis, why does he spend so much time talking about people like the ancient Romans and King Arthur? And if he’s being “biblical,” why does he talk about topics that just aren’t in the biblical text, like “leadership” and “representation”? In this episode, Dan decodes how Hawley actually uses the Bible to explain this ideological mash-up. Check it out to hear more! Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe to Reign of Error: https://redcircle.com/shows/fbed712f-0027-40af-a33b-fd9de05efc5c In this special episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad introduces Reign of Error, a new investigative series hosted by journalist Sarah Posner. The pilot episode, titled “The Gospel of Deportation: Why Christian Nationalists Love ICE,” sets the tone for the series by examining how Christian nationalist theology is shaping immigration policy, public rhetoric, and the use of state power. Brad joins Sarah to frame the project’s goals and to unpack why immigration enforcement has become such a powerful site for religious symbolism, moral certainty, and political violence in the Trump era. The conversation explores how biblical language, evangelical identity, and nationalist mythmaking are used to justify mass deportations, expanded ICE authority, and the erosion of civil liberties. Brad and Sarah trace these narratives through current events, media spectacle, and political leadership, showing how religious certainty is weaponized against vulnerable communities while distracting from broader policy failures. The episode also offers moments of clarity and resistance, highlighting court challenges, community organizing, and the importance of sustained public engagement. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Miller examines how the Trump administration is beginning 2026 and what recent policy decisions reveal about its priorities. Dan breaks down the administration’s signature “one big beautiful bill,” its continued unpopularity, and the GOP’s insistence that the problem is messaging rather than substance. The episode also explores why widely supported policies like ACA subsidies, childcare funding, and disaster relief continue to be undermined, while legislation consistently favors the wealthy. Dan connects these economic choices to the administration’s reliance on culture war distractions, including targeting marginalized communities, rolling back clean energy initiatives, and slashing FEMA support. The throughline, he argues, is a governing vision that withdraws care from ordinary Americans while protecting power and privilege at the top. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the slogan, “stand for the flag, kneel for the cross” a harmless expression of the conviction that good Christians can also be good citizens? Or if we decode it, do we find that a meaning that’s much more pernicious than that? In this episode, Dan argues that this slogan is an expression of Christian nationalism, giving voice to anti-Black racism and licensing election denial and efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad revisits the idea that exvangelicals are just broke and giving up on faith. He responds to an interview at the Remnant Radio with Skillet's John Cooper. Topics discussed: Do non-Evangelicals allow culture to shape them, while Evangelicals allow Scripture to be the formative influence? Is Truth all or nothing? Why are Evangelicals so upset when exvies "share the Gospel" of their deconstruction? Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Linktree:⁠ https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC⁠ Order Brad's book: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163⁠ ⁠Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza⁠ ⁠Subscribe to American Exceptionalism⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode, Brad introduces an audio essay by Matt Taylor titled 'The Colonized God.' Taylor, known for his work on the New Apostolic Reformation, explores the complex relationship between Christians who are not Christian nationalists and Christian supremacists, who use Christianity to gain power and marginalize others. The essay delves into how different interpretations of Jesus' teachings can divide communities and the impact of Christian supremacy on contemporary American politics, especially in light of events like the January 6th Capitol riot. Taylor also reflects on his personal journey as a Christian amidst these tumultuous times and calls for a return to the core values of humility and compassion epitomized by Jesus. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who “owns” Christmas? When Christians tell non-Christians that they need to “remember the reason for the season,” or accuse them of engaging in a “war on Christmas,” do they have a right to do so? Is Christmas “theirs” just because it originated as a Christian religious holiday? In this episode, Dan argues that American Christians made Christmas a mainstream part of American culture, a dimension of general Americana, and that as a result they no longer have a claim on the holiday or the right to dictate to others how it should be observed (or not). Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this end-of-year episode of Straight White American, Jesus, Brad Onishi steps away from headlines, interviews, and analysis to offer something closer to a sermon—a reflection shaped by grief, exhaustion, and defiance at the close of 2025. Naming this past year as the hardest in the life of the show, Brad traces the weight of watching democratic erosion, state violence, and everyday cruelty unfold alongside ordinary life: birthday parties, school pickups, conversations about weather and sports. Drawing on biblical myth, philosophy, and personal memory, he asks what it means to remain human—self-aware, vulnerable, morally implicated—when it would be easier to numb ourselves, to live like giants who only eat, sleep, and survive. This episode is an argument for joy as resistance, not escapism. Brad reflects on loss, fear, and doubt, while insisting that the fight for justice is inseparable from the small, ordinary pleasures that make life worth defending: shared meals, family rituals, love, curiosity, creativity, and care. As we look toward 2026, this is a call to hold wonder alongside sorrow—to refuse the theft of our humanity by authoritarians, cynicism, or despair. The work continues, both in the streets and in the quiet moments that remind us why we fight at all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Miller unpacks how Republican policy and ideology are converging around harm rather than governance. He begins with healthcare, breaking down how congressional action allowed Affordable Care Act subsidies to lapse and what that means for millions of Americans who rely on them. Rather than offering alternatives, the GOP continues to frame healthcare through an ideological lens that treats public support as illegitimate, even when the human cost is clear. From there, Dan traces the familiar shift from policy failure to moral panic, focusing on the escalating attacks on trans youth. He examines the House passage of Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Protect Children’s Innocence Act, the Trump administration’s push to ban gender affirming care for minors, and recent FDA actions targeting breast binders. Dan connects these moves to a broader right wing strategy that defines itself through opposition to marginalized groups, warning that restrictions justified in the name of protecting children and morality often pave the way for wider government overreach. He closes by looking at Pete Hegseth’s influence inside the military and the dangers of folding Christian nationalism into institutions meant to serve a pluralistic society. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley suggests that men are tasked with being “leaders.” But what does that mean for him? In what ways does he mix and match his terms to mask his real understanding of leadership and masculinity? And how does it bring to light the ways he presents a caricature of anyone who would question his vision of masculinity? Check out this week’s episode to find out. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad sits down with Dr. Rachel Wagner, Professor of Religious Studies at Ithaca College and author of Cowboy Apocalypse, for a sobering and necessary conversation about why guns hold such powerful meaning in American life. Prompted by recent mass shootings, the episode explores how firearms have become more than tools or political symbols and instead function as sacred objects tied to religion, masculinity, and apocalyptic imagination. Dr. Wagner introduces the idea of the “cowboy apocalypse,” a myth rooted in frontier nostalgia, the fantasy of the lone hero, and the belief that violence can restore order in a chaotic world. Together, Brad and Rachel unpack how this story continues to shape American responses to fear, danger, and social change. The discussion traces how Christian theology, end times thinking, and cultural certainty have fused with gun culture, turning weapons into symbols of protection, identity, and belonging for some, while representing terror and exclusion for others. Brad and Rachel examine the evolution of the NRA from a gun safety organization into a political and quasi religious force, the role of masculinity and whiteness in defining who is seen as a “good guy with a gun,” and how moments like January 6 reflect a kind of live action role play driven by these myths. The episode closes with a powerful reflection on democracy itself, emphasizing that dialogue, complexity, and empathy are incompatible with the certainty promised by violence. It is a challenging conversation that invites listeners to confront the stories Americans tell about guns and what those stories cost us. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad and Dan return to unpack another week of chaos, contradictions, and creeping authoritarianism in American politics. They open with what seems like a small story but carries outsized symbolic weight: the State Department’s decision to ditch Calibri and return to Times New Roman. It’s a font change driven not by aesthetics but by politics, revealing how the Trump administration is using even bureaucratic details to signal exclusion, target accessibility, and roll back DEI efforts. What looks trivial becomes a window into the deeper logic of authoritarian control. From there, the conversation widens to the issues shaping the country’s political landscape. Brad and Dan examine ICE’s ever expanding budget, the ongoing manipulation of the election system through voter roll purges and gerrymandering, and a string of contentious congressional hearings, including Kristi Noem’s abrupt walkout and the FBI’s admission that it cannot define Antifa as a coherent organizational threat. They also discuss Trump’s increasingly explicit racist and misogynistic rhetoric and the striking silence from GOP leaders who once claimed to stand for democratic norms. Despite the bleak headlines, Brad and Dan highlight signs that Trump’s influence may be eroding. They point to GOP resistance emerging in places like Indiana, rumblings of discontent within the Heritage Foundation, and encouraging gains for Democrats in state legislatures and mayoral races. But they also wrestle with the central tension of the moment: does Trump’s declining popularity matter if structural control continues to consolidate beneath him. Can the MAGA movement build enduring institutions, or is it fundamentally a brittle coalition held together by grievance and spectacle. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode of 'Straight White American Jesus,' the host introduces the podcast series 'When We All Get To Heaven,' which chronicles the history of the Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco during the AIDS epidemic. The series, produced by Lynn Gerber and available on Slate, uses an archive of 1200 cassette tape recordings from the church to explore themes of grief, joy, faith, and community amidst the crisis. The episode features reflections from church members, including Reverend Jim Mitulsky, detailing personal and collective struggles and resilience. The series celebrates the church's inclusive theology and its unyielding commitment to supporting its queer congregation through the darkest times. https://www.heavenpodcast.org/#home-section Donate: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley argues that “man’s mission” is to combat evil. Defining men in this way makes evil necessary, and it transforms every political, social, and cultural disagreement into a moral conflict of cosmic significance. In this episode, Dan shows how this leads Hawley to distort the “modern culture” and “liberals” he opposes. He also looks at the ways in which Hawley, and those who share his worldview, accuse their opponents of doing exactly the same things they do in practice, and he discusses why understanding this is so important. Take a listen to hear more! Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad is joined by Alan Elrod, CEO and founder of the Pulaski Institute, for a wide-ranging conversation about what happens to democracy when entertainment values replace empathy. They start with the Olivia Nuzzi scandal and what it exposes about journalistic ethics, voyeurism, and the public’s fascination with watching someone fall apart in real time. From there, Brad and Alan zoom out to look at the rise of reality TV and algorithmic social media, tracing how both have shaped a political culture that thrives on humiliation, moral certainty, and the dehumanization of anyone outside one’s tribe. The discussion turns to the viral hit Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and what its popularity reveals about our appetite for spectacle and dysfunction. Brad and Alan dig into why empathy and curiosity are essential for a functioning democracy and how those virtues are being eroded by the panopticon we now live in—one where everyone is a potential broadcaster and every misstep can become a public referendum. They explore how cancel culture, mob justice, and entertainment-driven politics harm people across the political spectrum, and connect these themes to the “Trump effect” that blurred the line between celebrity culture and governing. The episode closes with a look at a new national security document that frames American identity through Western supremacy, raising questions about how foreign policy, entertainment, and democratic decay are more intertwined than we might think. A sharp, timely, and at times unsettling exploration of what happens when a nation starts confusing spectacle for civic life. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad and Dan return with a packed Weekly Roundup that cuts through the noise of culture war headlines to get at what is really happening in American politics and religion this week. They start with the bizarre story dominating Congress: alleged Venezuelan narco boats, U.S. military strikes, and the growing scrutiny around Pete Hegseth’s involvement. Brad and Dan unpack the legal and ethical questions raised by the operation, the bipartisan concerns over potential war crimes, and the way Hegseth’s rhetoric is being weaponized in the larger project of authoritarian politics. As blame shifts within the administration, the hosts look at how these events fit into a longer pattern of circumventing democratic norms under the guise of national security. From there, the episode moves into the latest culture war flashpoint out of Oklahoma. A University of Oklahoma student, Samantha Fulnecky, received a failing grade on a paper centered on conservative Christian claims, and the incident was quickly inflated into a statewide moral panic. Brad and Dan trace how a classroom disagreement became a coordinated spectacle, how politicians and media personalities seized on the moment, and what the uproar reveals about academic freedom and the pressure educators face in a polarized climate. They discuss the difference between expressing a viewpoint and meeting academic standards, and why higher education has become a convenient battleground for Christian nationalist narratives. The hosts also break down the Supreme Court’s decision to keep Texas’s contested congressional maps in place for 2026. They examine the racial and partisan consequences of the ruling, what political leaders are saying in response, and how the decision fits into a broader assault on voting rights and democratic representation. Despite the heavy topics, Brad and Dan close with reasons for hope. They highlight ongoing pushback against authoritarian politics, communities organizing for justice, and signs that democratic accountability remains possible. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley builds his account on masculinity and manhood on the idea that men are created in God’s image and, as such, are his representatives on earth. But what is Hawley’s God like? What kind of God does Hawley worship? Who is this God that is the pattern for human manhood? In this episode, Dan argues that Hawley’s God’s insecurity drives him to exercise his power to dominate others. Check out the episode to hear why. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad takes a hard look at the American right’s response to the recent shooting of two National Guardsmen in Washington, DC, and shows how the rhetoric around the tragedy signals a shift from overt Christian nationalism to something even broader and more dangerous: Western supremacy. He traces how this worldview draws from older ideas about civilizational conflict and cultural hierarchy and how it is now being revived by politicians, pundits, and tech billionaires who frame immigration and diversity as threats to the survival of the West. Using statements from Donald Trump, Fox News, Elon Musk, and leaders of conservative think tanks, Brad breaks down how the language has moved from “protecting Christian America” to “defending Western civilization” and how that shift expands the target while narrowing the circle of belonging. He explains why Western supremacy is an exclusionary, anti democratic ideology and how it lays the groundwork for policies that declare entire groups incompatible with society. It is a sobering, sharp analysis of a growing political narrative that insists not everyone deserves a place at the table. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Dan talks about the popular praise and worship song, “Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart.” What is the message of this song? Written as a song of solace and hope, how does it also express an attitude that denies the reality of the things about this world and our places in it that should change? And what is the significance of expressing this attitude in the form of a song? Take a listen and find out. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad and Dan are back from the American Academy of Religion conference in Boston and kick off this episode with some love for the folks they met there before diving into a wild week in American politics and religion. They start with the viral moment between Erika Kirk and JD Vance at a TPUSA event, unpacking the media frenzy, the rumors about Kirk’s political aspirations, and what this says about the internal dynamics of a GOP that’s trying to blend celebrity, piety, and power. From there, they break down the Department of Justice’s statement implicating Kristi Noem in deportation flights and what that level of entanglement means for accountability within the MAGA movement. The second half of the episode takes a thoughtful turn as Brad and Dan dig into Bill McKibben’s essay “They’re Doing to America What They Did to Christianity,” exploring how nostalgia and selective memory shape everything from Christian identity to policy debates. They look at why both right wing and progressive versions of Christian nationalism are so dangerous, how civilizational populism reshaped politics during and after the Obama years, and why the GOP still has no coherent healthcare plan. Despite the heavy topics, the hosts offer reasons for hope with updates on recent legal wins, global news like Bolsonaro’s sentencing in Brazil, and reminders of why staying engaged matters. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Onishi sits down with Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Starr to dig into his new book, American Contradiction, and the idea that the United States is less a shining city on a hill and more a city built on a fault line. Starr traces how the nation’s promise of liberty has always coexisted with exclusion, hierarchy, and inequality, and how those tensions erupted in new ways during the 1990s. Together they unpack how the end of the Cold War, the rise of culture wars, and the shockwaves of policies like NAFTA reshaped party coalitions, fueled resentment, and set the stage for today’s political divide. Starr explains why the 90s were a turning point and how institutional structures like the Senate and Electoral College amplify polarization rather than contain it. The conversation also explores the growing gap between social progress and economic inequality and the challenges facing a Democratic Party trying to represent both progressive activists and working class voters. Bradley and Paul talk about the power of political storytelling, from nostalgia for an imagined past to despair over historical injustices, and how both shape the current moment. Despite everything, Starr ends with a measure of hope that the United States still has the capacity for reinvention and surprise if it can finally reckon with its contradictions and build a more inclusive national story. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of 'Straight White American, Jesus,' Brad Oishi discusses the Trump administration's paradoxical treatment of Christianity. Highlighting the arrest of Christian clergy during a protest at the Broadview immigration facility, Oishi critiques the administration's selective support for certain Christian ideologies while persecuting others. He explores the historical prominence of Evangelical Christianity in American politics and critiques the intersection of this with Trump’s deportation policies. Oishi underscores the dangers of Christian nationalism, emphasizing how it prioritizes a narrow interpretation of Christianity, leading to broader socio-political ramifications. The episode also touches on the broader implications of these actions, including upcoming ICE raids on Spanish-speaking churches and the administration's fragility amidst ongoing controversies. Soulforce: https://redcircle.com/shows/bb8f7ce2-d8f0-4859-bbac-c33c48e3ccb6 American Unexceptionalism: https://redcircle.com/shows/b92b742b-b515-4bde-8f34-7d8e312edf82 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains references to, and discussion of, death by suicide]. In this episode, Dan begins exploring what Josh Hawley calls “a man’s battle.” Hawley argues that what defines men, what gives them purpose, is fighting and confronting evil, and maintaining order in the face of chaos. But what exactly does this mean? And how does it make “evil” necessary? Why is this a tragic and dangerous view of the world? And what is the alternative? How can we understand “order” and “chaos” without falling into the trap of Hawley’s worldview? Check out the episode to hear Dan’s answers to these questions. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad takes listeners through two heartbreaking stories that reveal how religion, immigration policy, and selective notions of freedom collide in today’s political climate. He first looks at the attempted deportation of a Holocaust survivor born in a refugee camp after World War Two who has lived in the United States for decades. Brad shares details about the survivor's health struggles, the harsh conditions he has faced in detention, and what his case says about the cruelty baked into ICE’s approach to long-term residents. He then turns to an incident at the Broadview facility in Chicago, where clergy were suddenly told they could not pray for or with detainees. The conversation digs into religious liberty, the right to worship, and the way vulnerable people are denied both care and dignity inside these facilities. Throughout the episode, Brad connects these cases to larger themes of religious populism, civil liberties, and the uneven ways religious freedom gets applied in America. He contrasts the peaceful interfaith protests at Broadview with the violence of January 6th and reflects on who gets labeled as a threat when faith enters the public square. Brad also shares updates about the future of the show, including a redesigned website, new ways to connect, and expanded content for subscribers that digs into the shifting MAGA coalition and early positioning for the 2028 presidential race. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MAGAworld Splinters: Epstein Revelations, Civilizational Populism, and the Future of the GOP In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, hosts Brad O’Ri and Dan Miller discuss the tumultuous week surrounding U.S. politics, including the recent government shutdown, infamous Epstein emails, and the ensuing so-called 'MAGA Civil War.' They delve into the escalating division within MAGA ranks, highlighting the civilizational populism driving figures like JD Vance. Additionally, they explore the friction between Pope Leo and the American Council of Bishops concerning immigration policies. As a side note, the hosts announce their upcoming appearance at the American Academy of Religion Conference in Boston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan is off this week. So we are pleased to bring you a feature from our new limited series American Unexceptionalism: Global Lessons on Fighting Religious Nationalism with Dr. Matthew Taylor and Rev. Susan Hayward. South Korea is a nation that is deeply entwined with the United States. From the Korean War (which never technically ended) to Korean pop culture to the deep ties between Korean and American evangelical communities, what happens in the US affects South Korea and vice versa. But most Americans weren’t paying attention to the fact that Korean democracy was startlingly challenged less than a year ago when the president at the time (President Yoon) declared martial law and tried to have his political enemies arrested. That attempt at autocratic takeover was unsuccessful, because Koreans took to the streets to protest and even Yoon’s own party helped overturn his martial law decision and then impeach him. What can we in the United States learn from Korean activists and religious communities about how to resist wannabe tyrants? We get help on this question from two of the foremost experts on the interchanges between Korean religion and American religion: Helen J. Kim and Ray Kim. Additional Resources https://helenjinkim.com/ Home - International Center for Religion & Diplomacy - International Center for Religion & Diplomacy Helen J. Kim, Race for Revival: How Cold War South Korea Shaped the American Evangelical Empire (New York: Oxford University Press, 2022), https://global.oup.com/academic/product/race-for-revival-9780190062422. Paul Y. Chang, Protest Dialectics: State Repression and South Korea's Democracy Movement, 1970-1979 (Redwood City, CA: Stanford University Press, 2015), https://www.sup.org/books/asian-studies/protest-dialectics.  Chanhee Ho, “Charlie Kirk Memorial in Seoul Shows Power of Christian Nationalism for Young Korean Activists,” Religion Dispatches, September 30, 2025, https://religiondispatches.org/charlie-kirk-memorial-in-seoul-shows-power-of-christian-nationalism-for-young-korean-activists/. Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is the senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he specializes in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religious politics. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation. Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace’s efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. www.axismundi.us Executive Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi Producer: Andrew Gill Original Music and Mixing: Scott Okamoto Production Assistance: Kari Onishi Funded through generous contributions from ICJS, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the ICRD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the things small town librarian Amanda Jones values most about books is how they can affirm a young person's sense of self. So in 2022, when she caught wind of a local public hearing that would discuss “book content,” she knew what was at stake. Schools and libraries nationwide have been bombarded by demands for books with LGTBQ+ references, discussions of racism, and more to be purged from the shelves. Amanda would be damned if her community were to ban stories representing minority groups. She spoke out that night at the meeting. Days later, she woke up to a nightmare that is still ongoing. Amanda Jones has been called a groomer, a pedo, and a porn-pusher; she has faced death threats and attacks from strangers and friends alike. Her decision to support a collection of books with diverse perspectives made her a target for extremists using book banning campaigns-funded by dark money organizations and advanced by hard right politicians-in a crusade to make America more white, straight, and "Christian." But Amanda Jones wouldn't give up without a fight: she sued her harassers for defamation and urged others to join her in the resistance. The discussion delves into Amanda's story of growing up in Watson, Louisiana, her passion for literature and libraries, and the extreme harassment she faced after speaking out against book banning efforts in 2022. Amanda shares her journey, including filing a defamation lawsuit, the community's reaction, and the broader implications of book banning as a political tool. They also discuss practical steps for combatting censorship and supporting libraries.https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/that-librarian-9781639733545/ Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad and Dan unpack the historic election of Zohran Mamdani as Mayor of New York City and the predictable right-wing meltdown that followed, complete with claims that he’s somehow both too weak to lead and an existential threat to America. The hosts explore what this reaction says about the American right’s obsession with demographic change, the symbolism of Mamdani’s win for younger voters, and the generational shift redefining leadership in U.S. politics. They also dig into the backlash against young women voters, who showed up in huge numbers for progressive candidates across multiple states. Brad and Dan play clips from conservative pundits lamenting women’s “suicidal empathy” and even calling for the repeal of the 19th Amendment. The episode rounds out with sharp analysis of Democratic wins in Virginia and New Jersey, key court rulings, and local policy fights, ending on an optimistic note about the growing momentum for justice and accountability. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley argues that American “liberals” (anyone who isn’t a conservative Christian) don’t have a story to tell about men’s purpose in the world. But it turns out things are a lot more complicated than he lets on. It turns out that those “liberals” just might have a story worth telling after all. And, even worse for him, it turns out that his story actually isn’t so different from theirs after all. What is this story? How is it similar to and different from the story Hawley wants to tell? And what will that mean for Hawley’s ongoing exploration of manhood? Take a listen to this week’s episode to find out! Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Onishi is joined by Dr. Laura Field, author of Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right, for a fascinating look into the intellectual roots of the MAGA movement and its rising political stars, including JD Vance. Together they trace the philosophical and theological threads that tie together the Claremont Institute, National Conservatives, and Postliberal Catholics—three camps shaping the hard right’s challenge to American liberalism. From Patrick Deneen’s critique of modernity to Adrian Vermeule’s “common good constitutionalism,” the discussion unpacks how these thinkers frame a moral and political alternative to liberal democracy, and how their ideas inform Vance’s worldview and public persona. The conversation also explores what’s at stake when intellectuals try to fuse religion, nationalism, and governance into a single moral vision for America. Brad and Laura discuss the deep cultural anxiety driving this movement, the narratives of victimhood that sustain it, and the potential consequences of replacing pluralism with authoritarian moral certainty. They close with reflections on how to counter these ideas with honest, accessible scholarship and renewed democratic imagination. Get Dr. Laura Field's book Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right⁠ HERE Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan’s “demon” costume sets the stage for a serious warning: Americans may not be able to vote freely in 2026. Brad argues that authoritarian tactics and election interference are accelerating, pointing to SNAP benefit cuts, ACA premium hikes, and the creation of a National Guard “quick reaction force” as tools of social control. The hosts connect these developments to historical examples of militarized regimes and discuss how Trump loyalists embedding on military bases signal deeper threats to democracy. They also turn their attention to JD Vance’s recent appearances at Ole Miss and Turning Point USA, where his rhetoric blends Christian nationalism, white supremacy, and populist theater. From his calls to teach Christianity in schools to his public remarks about his Hindu wife, Vance uses religion as a political weapon while appealing to the MAGA base. Yet amid the darkness, Brad and Dan highlight reasons for hope, including legal and judicial pushback against extreme policies and bipartisan resistance in the Senate. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley devotes the second chapter of his book to outlining what he sees as “man’s purpose.” He promises to answer the question of why men are here, and what they are supposed to do. What does he see as this purpose? And why does his claim to uncover man’s purpose ultimately amount to nothing? Why does Dan describe it as an “empty” account of purpose? And how does this undermine Hawley’s claim that the Bible’s story of man is the only story that can provide meaning and purpose? Check out this week’s episode to find out! Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad welcomes Liz Theoharis and Charon Hribar, editors of We Pray Freedom: Liturgies and Rituals from The Freedom Church of the Poor. Both guests are key leaders in the faith-based anti-poverty movement and longtime organizers with the Poor People’s Campaign. Together, they discuss how liturgy and ritual can be reclaimed as acts of collective resistance, solidarity, and hope among the poor and dispossessed. The conversation weaves through Liz and Charon’s personal journeys—Liz’s formation in faith-driven social justice work and Charon’s discovery of liberation theology growing up in a steel town—and traces how decades of grassroots organizing through the Kairos Center inspired this new book. They explore how faith traditions, particularly Christianity, can serve as public, justice-oriented practice rather than private belief, what it means to “pray with your feet,” and how ritual itself can be political. Drawing from We Pray Freedom, the guests share powerful examples: a memorial liturgy for unhoused people at New York’s Potter’s Field, a reimagined Las Posadas led by migrant communities, and multi-faith celebrations like Diwali and Passover that embody joy, resilience, and defiance. They also address the current “war on the poor” in the U.S.—from healthcare cuts to attacks on education—and highlight how communities continue to organize, resist, and find joy together. This episode is both a spiritual and practical conversation about how worship, art, and music can sustain movements for justice. Resources Mentioned: We Pray Freedom: Liturgies and Rituals from The Freedom Church of the Poor – available via Bookshop.org and major retailers Companion site: weprayfreedom.org (includes songs, liturgies, and other materials) The Kairos Center: kairoscenter.org | @kairoscenternyc Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad and Dan unpack the symbolism and substance behind the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to make way for a privately funded ballroom. They reflect on what presidential construction projects reveal about power, legacy, and the messages leaders send through what they build...and destroy. The conversation broadens into current policies on immigration and detention centers, the expansion of ICE, and the moral failures in training and accountability. The hosts also examine the “No Kings” protests and the growing Christian nationalist backlash that frames dissent as rebellion against “Jesus as King.” They connect this rhetoric to broader themes of exclusion, such as dismissive comments about non-Christian holidays like Diwali, and to the resurgence of biblical literalism—including a far-right pastor’s defense of slavery. Brad and Dan trace the dangerous evolution from persuasion to colonization within evangelical and nationalist movements, while highlighting protest and public dissent as vital signs of democratic resistance and hope. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode delves into the recent controversies surrounding Opus Dei, a secretive and influential organization within the Catholic Church. According to a report from Infovaticana, Opus Dei faces a significant internal rupture that could see it fragmented into three distinct bodies, effectively dissolving its current structure. Annika Brockschmidt guest hosts in conversation with journalist Gareth Gore, author of 'Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church.' Gareth elaborates on the historical context and modern operations of Opus Dei, including its recruitment and coercive practices. He also highlights the organization's conflicts with the Vatican and ongoing abuse allegations. Opus by Gareth Gore: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Opus/Gareth-Gore/9781668016152 Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad’s book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode continues the exploration of how masculinity and the category of "man" function within the contemporary right, using Senator Josh Hawley’s book "Manhood" as a guide. Dan reads and reflects on Hawley’s arguments, focusing on the biblical foundations Hawley claims for his views on masculinity. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Brad Onishi dives into the ideological roots of one of Peter Thiel's most significant ventures, Palantir. Drawing from Thiel’s reflections on Leo Strauss's philosophy and the aftermath of 9/11, Onishi explores how Palantir embodies a tech-driven strategy for national defense. The discussion extends to Thiel's collaborations with figures like Alex Karp and how their collective efforts align with a vision of Western superiority, national security, and technological dominance. This episode also touches on the broader implications of Palantir's integration into U.S. government and surveillance, raising crucial questions about civil liberties and geopolitical strategies. www.axismundi.us www.swaj.supercast.com #peterthiel #news #trump #armageddon #antichrist #palantir #ice #theology #philosophy #politics #religion #tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Brad Onishi sits down with Rev. Alba Onofrio—executive director of Soulforce and host of Teología Sin Vergüenza—for a powerful exploration of faith, queerness, and resistance. Together, they unpack how white Christian nationalism and institutions like ICE perpetuate spiritual violence against marginalized communities, and how Soulforce responds through nonviolent resistance and liberative theology. Rev. Alba shares their own remarkable story—from growing up in Appalachia and coming out, to embracing the name “Reverend Sex” and reclaiming spirituality as a site of freedom rather than shame. The conversation dives into the roots and mission of Soulforce, highlighting its Spirit Resource Library and the movement’s commitment to equipping activists with tools for justice and healing. Rev. Alba reflects on the power of queer and trans ancestors, the complexity of belonging for Latinx and mixed-race individuals, and the importance of creating inclusive, full-bodied faith communities. Through Teología Sin Vergüenza, they continue to cultivate space for unapologetic conversations about faith, identity, and justice—challenging listeners to imagine a world where love and liberation guide our spiritual lives. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad and Dan unpack a disturbing leaked group chat among young Republican leaders that reveals casual racism, homophobia, and even Nazi sympathies. They analyze how JD Vance publicly defended the individuals involved by dismissing their comments as “edgy jokes,” exposing a growing tolerance for extremism within parts of the GOP. The discussion expands to examine the double standard in political outrage — why some are harshly punished for crossing lines while others face little consequence — and how in-group loyalty continues to erode moral accountability in American politics. The conversation then moves into deeper territory, exploring the psychological and ideological forces driving this shift. The hosts dissect the narratives of victimhood and persecution that fuel right-wing identity politics, as well as the appeal of hierarchy and order for certain business and political leaders who see democracy as messy or unstable. They highlight the challenge of mobilizing citizens around democracy itself, arguing that the fight for freedom requires a new, inspiring story that unites people rather than divides them. The episode concludes with a preview of the upcoming “No Kings” rallies — events centered on defending democracy through collective action — and a call for listeners to stay engaged in the struggle for a just and inclusive society. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Hawley says that American manhood is threatened by “the left,” and that this threat lies in the fact that they are “anti-story.” What is missing, and what is necessary to save American manhood, he argues, is the right story. But what is the story that Hawley tells? And is it really the only story it’s possible to tell? And are all of us who reject or challenge his story really “anti-story?” Isn’t it possible to tell other stories about America and men and masculinity? And why do the answers to these questions matter so much? Listen to this week’s episode as Dan dives into these questions to find out. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What can we Americans learn from others around the world about how to protect democracy when the stakes are high? Can we as Americans learn about how to challenge forms of religious nationalism and religious supremacy? What can we learn from Buddhists in Sri Lanka or Muslims in Turkey, or Christians in South Korea who have faced similar kinds of forms of religious nationalism in in their own context and sought to deflate their power? That’s the purpose for this series. Across 10 episodes, we travel around the world to places where there are similar battles afoot, where exclusionary movements of religious nationalism are driving democratic backslid. We’ll be speaking with people of faith from a variety of faiths and traditions. We’ll be speaking with scholars and activists to understand what is happening in these contexts, how it’s similar to or different from what’s happening in the USA, and we’re gonna try to mine some practical lessons from those we speak to about what’s worked and what hasn’t in these efforts to protect democracy. ⁠ Subscribe to American Exceptionalism⁠ Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when political language becomes so distorted that anyone opposing Donald Trump is branded as “lawless,” “Antifa,” or even an “insurrectionist”? In this episode, Brad and Dan unpack how these labels have become empty signifiers... tools for dismissing dissent and consolidating power under what they call the “rule of Trump.” They break down recent Senate hearings, including Pam Bondi’s heated appearance, as a case study in this rhetorical shift. The hosts examine how religious and constitutional language are being weaponized to legitimize political actions and blur the line between patriotism and partisanship. Brad and Dan also reflect on the murder of Charlie Kirk and the troubling way his image is being used for both political and theological capital. The conversation turns to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s call for state resistance to federal overreach, prompting a deeper look at how “states’ rights” has evolved (and been repurposed) throughout American history. Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing a new show from Axis Mundi Media. Teología Sin Vergüenza: Navigating Faith, Activism, and Identity. Teología Sin Vergüenza is a digital platform originally in Spanish, created in response to the far-right's dominance over religious media. The platform serves as a space for people at the intersections of queer or trans feminist theology, faith, and activism to engage in conversations about taboo topics like divorce, sex, gender identity, and abortion. It aims to bridge divides between academic, religious, and activist silos, involving diverse voices from various Christian denominations and beyond. The first English season seeks to make these critical conversations accessible to the Latin American diaspora in the U.S., focusing on real-life experiences and decolonizing faith by separating political agendas from genuine religious traditions. Subscribe here: https://redcircle.com/shows/bb8f7ce2-d8f0-4859-bbac-c33c48e3ccb6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Series: “Manhood” Title: “The Plight of Man” In this episode, Dan continues to examine what, precisely, Josh Hawley, thinks the problems are that confront American men. Hawley consistently ignores history and the actual complexity of American society to make his points. But why does he do this? Why is he so concerned with “manhood” at all? And how does this supposed concern express a deeper Christian nationalist agenda? Listen to this week’s episode to find out! Linktree:⁠ https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC⁠ Order Brad's book: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163⁠ Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal:⁠ www.betterhelp.com⁠ Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this recording of a livestream from October 6, 2025, Dr. Brad Onishi delves into the complex religious worldview of Peter Thiel, exploring his beliefs about Christianity, technology, and the future. Thiel's perspective on Armageddon, the Antichrist, and the role of innovation in society is examined, alongside his influences from political theorists like Carl Schmitt and Leo Strauss. The discussion also touches on the concept of mimesis and scapegoating in human behavior, and how these ideas shape Thiel's vision for a future led by tech founders.Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad and Dan examine Pete Hegseth’s recent gathering of generals, critiquing his “warrior ethos” rhetoric and highlighting the dangers of his speech that attacked DEI, questioned due process in sexual assault cases, and called for stricter religious and fitness standards in the military. They unpack his fat-shaming and fabricated claims, contrasting leadership with rulership in both Hegseth’s and Trump’s approaches, which lean on power rather than genuine leadership. The discussion expands to Trump’s disturbing remarks about using American cities as military training grounds and framing citizens as enemies, alongside analysis of Project 2025, the looming government shutdown, and Russ Vought’s strategy targeting blue states. Brad and Dan also spotlight Judge William G. Young’s strong defense of pro-Palestinian speech and his rebuke of Trump’s attacks on free expression. With themes of authoritarianism, executive overreach, and the critical role of resistance, the hosts call on listeners to stay informed, resist normalization of these tactics, and engage in the ongoing fight for democracy. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Series: “Manhood” Title: “The Model Man”This episode kicks off a deep-dive in the cultural discourse on “manhood” that is such a defining feature of conservative high-control religion and contemporary Christian nationalism. Dan will be exploring this theme by looking at the way it’s expressed in US Senator Josh Hawley’s book, Manhood: The Masculine Virtues America Needs. In this episode, he asks, who is Josh Hawley, and what makes him (in his own estimation) the “model man” to guide us on a journey to authentic “masculinity.” The answers? Take a listen to find out! Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this livestream from 9/29, Brad Onishi discusses the implications of sending troops to Portland, the gathering of military leaders, and the broader context of political authoritarianism in the United States. He explores the motivations behind these actions, the framing of American citizens as enemies, and the potential threats to democracy and voting rights. The conversation also touches on how Christian nationalists see the death of Charlie Kirk as the bullet to the neck of lefitsm in the USA. The deployment of troops to Portland is largely symbolic and politically motivated. The American right views Portland as a representation of everything they oppose. The gathering of military leaders raises concerns about loyalty and the potential for oppression. The current administration is focusing on domestic threats rather than foreign adversaries. The framing of American citizens as enemies is a dangerous trend. Voting rights are under threat, and the system is being manipulated to ensure votes don't count. Christian nationalists are increasingly vocal about their desire for a violent response to progressivism. Historical parallels can be drawn between current events and authoritarian regimes like Franco's Spain. The definition of the 'enemy' is expanding to include various groups and individuals. Awareness and mobilization are crucial in the face of these threats to democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Brad interviews Dr. Helen Jin Kim, who unpacks the intertwined history of White Evangelicalism, U.S. empire, and the Korean Peninsula. The conversation explores how Cold War geopolitics and American missionary organizations like Billy Graham, World Vision, and Campus Crusade helped fuel Christianity’s explosive growth in South Korea, while also advancing U.S. neocolonial influence. Dr. Kim highlights the nationalist visions and agency of Korean Christians, the racial dynamics that rendered Asian actors invisible in American Evangelical history, and the enduring legacy of anti-communist rhetoric across both U.S. and Korean Christian communities. The discussion sheds light on the intersection of race, religion, and empire, and the challenges faced by Korean American Christians as they navigate identity, theology, and politics in the United States. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ This episode of Straight White American Jesus dives into a wide range of pressing issues, from the Trump administration’s controversial advice for pregnant women to avoid Tylenol—driven in part by RFK’s influence despite a lack of scientific support—to the broader political and patriarchal implications for public health. The hosts examine how the right manipulates media through distraction and “flooding the zone,” using high-profile events like the murder of Charlie Kirk to bury stories such as the Epstein files. They also unpack the escalation of political violence and rhetoric, highlighting the dangerous labeling of teachers and opponents as “terrorists” by figures like JD Vance, Kash Patel, Kristi Noem, and Steve Bannon. Megan Kelly’s dismissive response to an ICE bribery scandal serves as a window into how loyalty now trumps principles, while the erosion of good faith dialogue underscores the deepening polarization tied to identity and ideology. Yet, amid the bleak landscape, the episode also points to reasons for hope, from Ryan Walters’ resignation as Oklahoma superintendent to Disney’s challenge of Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, offering reminders that pushback and positive change are still possible. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ In this final episode exploring Allie Beth Stuckey’s critique of “toxic empathy,” Dan takes on her argument that calls for “social justice” are not only un-Christian, but “evil.” On what basis does she make this claim? And how does she defend this view as “biblical?” How does she deal with the dozens and dozens of biblical passages that call for social justice? And what does the answer to this question tell us about how she understands racial identity? Listen to this week’s episode to find out! Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $40 for the ENTIRE YEAR! to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ In this episode, we explore the recent memorial service for Charlie Kirk, which turned into a significant event for Christian nationalists. We delve into the themes of American identity fused with Christian practice, the hagiographic portrayal of Charlie Kirk, and the reaction of various political and religious figures. From the involvement of Trump and his administration to the divisive rhetoric of speakers like Stephen Miller and Tucker Carlson, this episode highlights the ongoing struggle between different visions of American Christianity and nationalism. We also touch upon the contrasting views on forgiveness vs. hatred within the MAGA movement and the broader implications for the nation. 00:00 Introduction to Charlie Kirk's Memorial 00:44 Defining Christian Nationalism 01:25 Hagiography of Charlie Kirk 05:09 The Saint of MAGA Nation 08:26 Forgiveness and Vengeance 16:46 Christian Nationalism vs. Big Evangelicalism 23:13 Stephen Miller's Speech and Its Implications 28:42 Tucker Carlson's Controversial Remarks 39:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Brad is joined by Leah Greenberg, co-founder of Indivisible, for a powerful conversation about the unprecedented scale of grassroots mobilization since the Trump administration and the importance of finding a local organizing home. They discuss historic mass protests like “Hands Off” and “No King’s Day,” which saw millions gather across thousands of towns, and explore the effectiveness of protest and advocacy when paired with strategy. Leah introduces Indivisible’s ambitious 1 Million Rising initiative to train people in nonviolent resistance and organizing, highlighting the urgency of preparing for authoritarian tactics such as voter intimidation and election subversion. They also cover the stakes of upcoming elections, threats to voting rights, and the need for a unifying narrative that inspires hope and authentic engagement with voters. The conversation emphasizes the power of digital organizing, including Indivisible’s new “Truth and Share” tool, while underscoring that sustained, community-based action is essential to resisting authoritarianism and securing the future of democracy. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Brad and Dan tackle the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel, the FCC, and free speech in the United States, while examining political and media reactions to Charlie Kirk’s death and the responses from Trump allies JD Vance and Steven Miller. They discuss the broader implications for media censorship, the growing power of state-aligned outlets, and how high-profile events are used to justify targeting dissent, particularly against left-wing groups, trans people, and critics of the Trump administration. The episode highlights the Heritage Foundation’s push to label trans people and allies as domestic terrorists, the chilling effect of government threats on universities and businesses, and the ripple effects leading to preemptive firings and resignations. Despite these alarming developments, Brad and Dan underscore the importance of resistance, hope, and refusing to give in to authoritarian trends. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ In this episode, Dan considers his look at why Allie Beth Stuckey rejects calls for social justice. He shows how she denies the existence of systemic racism and of racial privilege, and the ways in which she ignores the multiple dimensions of social justice to invalidate the experience of racism by millions of Americans. He also argues that people like Stuckey carefully cultivate their ignorance of the dynamics of race and privilege in America to protect and preserve their own social privilege. Check out this week’s episode to hear more! Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Brad discusses the political and cultural climate surrounding the murder of Charlie Kirk, focusing on the rise of political violence, the Supreme Court's recent decision enabling racial profiling, and the rhetoric of white Christian nationalism. Joined by Alan Elrod, they explore how online culture and screens have changed the way Americans process violence and empathy, the impact of status anxiety in the heartland, and the dangers of exclusionary ideologies. The conversation highlights the erosion of empathy and civic connection in the digital age, the manipulation of tragic events for political gain, and the urgent need to foster both meaningful social interactions and reflective solitude to sustain a healthy democracy. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ In this episode, Brad and Dan discuss the life, death, and legacy of Charlie Kirk, examining the media and political reactions to his assassination, the narratives emerging from both the right and left, and the broader context of political violence in America. They explore Kirk’s influence on conservative and Christian nationalist movements, the controversial rhetoric and actions associated with him and his organization TPUSA, and the tendency of mainstream media to valorize divisive figures after their deaths. They emphasize their opposition to political violence, reflect on the complexities of online radicalization, and critique the use of free speech rhetoric to silence criticism, while also highlighting recent events and ongoing issues related to violence, democracy, and hope in the U.S. and abroad. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ In the final chapter of her book, Allie Beth Stuckey takes on “social justice.” Specifically, she puts forward her argument that demands for “social justice” are not only expressions of “toxic” empathy, but they are actually unjust, and incompatible with Christian notions of justice. But her arguments depend on the idea that White Christians are the real victims of social injustice and on fundamental misperceptions of social reality. In what ways, and why does this matter so much? Check out this week’s episode to find out! Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Brad speaks with Zach Lambert, pastor of Restore Austin and author of "Better Ways to Read the Bible." Together, they explore how the Bible has often been used as a weapon to exclude and harm, but also discuss more inclusive and healing approaches to scripture. Zach shares his personal journey from being excluded in youth group to leading a church that embraces diversity and affirms LGBTQ+ members. The conversation covers harmful interpretive lenses like moralism and hierarchy, and highlights better alternatives such as fruitfulness and flourishing, emphasizing interpretations that promote love, justice, and community. They also address the dangers of Christian nationalism and Christo-fascism, offering hope for a more compassionate and just expression of faith. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Brad and Dan tackle a whirlwind of pressing issues shaping the American landscape. They break down Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s bold stand against Trump’s threats to deploy the military in Chicago, explore the deeper implications of masculinity and political power through viral moments and media narratives, and discuss the targeting of marginalized groups in current policy debates. The hosts connect these events to broader themes of authoritarianism, the myth of the “Lost Cause,” and the ongoing struggle over American identity, all while offering sharp analysis, historical context, and a dose of hope for resistance and community. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Allie Beth Stuckey tells us that our views on immigrants, immigration, and borders must be shaped by an awareness that God is a god of “order.” But what does “order” mean for her? And how does this shape her understanding of immigrants and immigration? Are there other ways to understand order? And what if god is understood in terms of compassion, or love, or redemption, or justice, rather than “order”? How might these notions shape our attitudes in different ways? Take a listen to this week’s episode as Dan takes us through these issues. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ 100 years after the famous Scopes "Monkey" Trial, the battle over the separation of church and state in American public life is as heated as ever. Brad is joined by Dan Mach, director of the ACLU’s Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, to discuss the enduring legacy of the Scopes trial and its modern-day echoes in courtrooms and classrooms across the country. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ This week on Straight White American Jesus, Brad and Dan unpack a heavy news cycle that spans tragedy, politics, and cultural shifts. They begin with the Minnesota mass shooting, examining the familiar “thoughts and prayers” narrative and how political leaders like Jacob Frey, Jen Psaki, and JD Vance framed the conversation. From there, the hosts turn to the shakeup at the CDC, where the removal of its director and the installation of a biotech investor with ties to Peter Thiel signals the increasing replacement of experts with ideologues. They also trace the troubling reemergence of eugenics in public discourse, especially in rhetoric from figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The conversation then shifts to higher education and the military, highlighting the purge of civilian faculty at West Point and the broader attack on the humanities as part of a push toward compliance over critical thought. Despite the grim topics, Brad and Dan close with reflections on resilience, community, and reasons to hold on to hope. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $40 for the entire year to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 700-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, co-hosts Brad Onishi and Dan Miller analyze the rise of fascism in the United States, discussing Trump's failing health and the regime's maneuvers to cement control before he exits the scene. They explore how ICE raids and aggressive deportation tactics are undercutting Steven Miller's totalitarian aims, and the notable resistance by Democratic governors who are increasingly emphasizing state rights. The conversation also touches on the shifting narratives around big government, with the Trump administration epitomizing invasive, socialist policies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Allie Beth Stuckey advances a typically xenophobic, right-wing immigration agenda, focused on using misinformation and scare-mongering to justify keeping (primarily) non-White immigrants out of the US. And she says that she does so for “biblical” reasons. But what are these reasons? What biblical rationale does she offer? And how does she deal with the numerous Bible passages that command care for the “foreigner,” the “sojourner,” the “stranger among you”? Listen to this week’s episode as Dan tackles these issues, uncovering a pattern of selective appeals to the Bible that is typical of high-control conservative Christianity. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices