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.

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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/

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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/

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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 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

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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!

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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.

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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.

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