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. Nafeez Ahmed, author of "Alt Reich," about the historical and contemporary roots of fascism and white supremacy in Western politics. They discuss the evolution of far-right ideologies from the 1930s to the present, the influence of eugenics and organizations like the Pioneer Fund and Heritage Foundation, and the mainstreaming of racist ideas in both the US and UK. The conversation highlights the cyclical nature of political disillusionment, the dangers of extremist groups gaining power, and the role of key figures like Steven Miller and Curtis Yarvin in shaping current policy and rhetoric. Alt Reich book: https://www.nafeezahmed.net/ 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 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad and Dan reunite to break down a tumultuous week in American politics, focusing on the federal takeover of Washington DC, the appointment of a controversial Heritage Foundation economist to oversee jobs data, and Gavin Newsom’s bold trolling of Trump. Brad & Dan explore the deeper cultural and theological roots of authoritarianism, the weaponization of fear and emotion in right-wing politics, and the chilling implications of ICE and military presence at political events. With sharp analysis, personal anecdotes, and a dash of humor, they offer listeners both a sobering look at the current state of democracy and reasons for hope and resistance. 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 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Why do conservative American Christians and Christian nationalists use the rhetoric of being “attacked” and “persecuted”? Why do they perceive themselves to be “suffering” in the contemporary United States, when they experience pronounced social, cultural, and legal privilege? And how do these ideas link up with the broader valorization of “suffering” within some forms of Christian identity? Dan takes on these issues in this week’s episode. 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 episode of 'Straight White American Jesus,' host Brad Onishi welcomes Leah Litman, a professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School , author of "Lawless," and co-host of the podcast 'Strict Scrutiny.' They discuss the political nature of the Supreme Court. Litman highlights conservative grievances, the rise of conspiracy theories influenced by these grievances, and the implications for judicial decisions affecting voting rights, LGBT equality, and reproductive rights. They explore the detrimental impact of originalism and the influence of the Federalist Society on judicial appointments. The conversation concludes with potential reforms to democratize the Supreme Court, including court expansion and ethics codes. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: ⁠⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Lawless: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Lawless/Leah-Litman/9781668054628 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 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/ In this episode of 'Straight White American Jesus', host Brad Onishi dives into the pressing issue of gerrymandering, which has recently taken center stage in national politics. Onishi discusses its widespread impact, from Texas to Illinois, and emphasizes the potential dangers to democracy if these actions continue unchecked. Special focus is given to Texas, where state Democrats have fled to avoid a quorum. The episode also touches on the problematic appointment of a former rioter as an advisor to the Department of Justice. Amidst these challenges, Onishi highlights a forthcoming series aimed at showcasing global resistance to authoritarianism, offering a glimmer of hope and strategies for effective pushback. 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 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Does Allie Beth Stuckey struggle with the temptation to exercise “toxic empathy?” In this episode, considering her opposition to marriage equality, Dan suggests that she does. How does she respond to this temptation? What does this response show us not only about her, but about high-control American Christianity? How does it illustrate the ways in which high-control religion invariably masks exercises of power and authority as “love”? 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

Redistricting and Political Turmoil in TexasIn this special edition of Straight White American Jesus, host Brad Onishi interviews Forrest Wilder from Texas Monthly to discuss the ongoing political upheaval in Texas. The conversation focuses on the Democrats' strategic exodus to break quorum in response to the Texas GOP's redistricting efforts, driven by Trump's demand for a more favorable playing field for Republicans. The episode delves into the humanitarian crisis ignored by the legislature, the potential consequences on both state and national politics, and the broader implications for democracy. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 800-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 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Brad sits down with David Corn, Washington Bureau Chief at Mother Jones, to unpack the IRS’s quiet but monumental decision to gut the Johnson Amendment—effectively giving churches and religious organizations the green light to endorse political candidates for the first time in nearly 70 years. They explore how this shift could turn churches into political machines fueled by dark money, spark “pay to play” dynamics among pastors, and deepen polarization within congregations. From mega-churches pushing campaign ads to local races influenced by pulpit power, the episode dives into the far-reaching consequences for democracy, transparency, and the already fragile wall between church and state. 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 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Brad and Dan tackle two urgent developments shaping the intersection of politics and religion in America. They begin with the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, examining how allegations of genocide—now echoed by Israeli human rights groups—are forcing fractures within the GOP, with figures like Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene offering unexpected critiques. Brad and Dan explore how Israel’s religious nationalism and the U.S. tendency to cast Islam and Palestine as threats complicate public discourse. Then, they turn to a chilling new Trump-era memo permitting federal employees to evangelize in the workplace, unpacking its implications for religious privilege, secular rights, and the Christian nationalist agenda behind Project 2025. Along the way, they call out congressional hypocrisy, share reasons for hope in the form of abortion shield laws, and spotlight rising global recognition of Palestine and U.S.-based resistance efforts. 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 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ In her homophobic attacks on “toxic empathy” as it relates to marriage equality and queer sexuality, Allie Beth Stuckey spends more time addressing the Bible than she has in the previous chapters of her book. But what, exactly, does she think the Bible is, and how does she believe we should read it? She gives us an important insight into this when she claims that everything in the Bible is what Jesus taught. But what can that possibly mean? And how does it relate to her promotion of a homophobic reading of the Bible? And what problems and ethical issues arise if we understand the Bible in these terms? And finally, does the Bible really advance the homophobic teachings Stuckey says it does? Check our this week’s episode as Dan dives into 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 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Brad Onishi sits down with Dr. Anand Pandian, author of Something Between Us, to explore the everyday “walls” that divide Americans—from SUVs and suburbs to video doorbells and noise-canceling headphones. Drawing on James Baldwin’s influence, Pandian reveals how our built environments and habits foster suspicion, loneliness, and disconnection. They exacertabe the ruthlessness of our political age. Onishi and Pandian discuss how activism, like the “Aunt Flow” movement, and simple neighborly acts can help rebuild empathy and community. This episode is a powerful reminder that polarization isn’t just political—it’s personal, physical, and fixable. Anand Pandian's book: https://anand.studio 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

In the first ever live-audience recording of a SWAJ episode, Brad Onishi and and Dan Miller discuss the unholy alliance between the White House and PragerU to generate AI slop that rewrites the words of Founding Fathers to fit ultra-conservative narratives. They highlight the deeper implications of this partnership, including the potential impact on education, the distortion of historical truth, and the broader socio-political atmosphere. The episode also touches on questions from the audience related to Christian nationalism, Reconstructionism, and current political controversies. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 800-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

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ n this episode of Straight White American Jesus, hosts Brad Onishi and Dan Miller dive deep into the ongoing fight over birthright citizenship and the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape American identity. They explore: The latest court battles over the 14th Amendment and birthright citizenship, including recent nationwide injunctions and their significance. The Trump administration’s use of propaganda, including the Department of Homeland Security’s posting of the iconic “Progress” painting by John Gast, and how it ties into white Christian nationalism. The historical roots of Manifest Destiny, settler colonialism, and the exclusion of Indigenous and other marginalized groups from the American narrative. The religious and philosophical ideas that have shaped American policies, including the role of Christian nationalism and the reinterpretation of “Native American” identity by white Christian nationalists. The intersection of current events, including the Epstein case, immigration policy, and the destruction of emergency food supplies, with broader themes of justice, exclusion, and national identity. 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 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ In the third chapter of her book attacking “toxic empathy,” Allie Beth Stuckey mounts her argument against gay rights and, in particular, marriage equality. Throughout her chapter, she asserts that marriage equality marks a departure from “biblical” or “traditional” marriage, from a model of marriage that has decisively shaped the Christian West from the time of Jesus and before, and that it should therefore be resisted at all costs. As Dan argues in this episode, the problem with this view is that it simply isn’t true. There has never been a clear, unequivocal “biblical” view on marriage, and understandings of marriage within the Christian tradition have evolved and changed from the time of Christ right up to the present day. Listen in to hear more about this, and why this matters for confronting the anti-LGBTQ+ agenda of Stuckey and those on the religious and cultural right. 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 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Brad examines the growing influence of Christian Reconstructionism within the United States, focusing on the opening of a new Christ Church outpost in Washington DC. He delves into the history of Christian Reconstructionism, its key figures like Doug Wilson and R.J. Rushdoony, and the ideology's impact on American politics and society. Brad discusses the attendance of high-profile figures like Pete Hegseth at the new church and the broader implications for Christian nationalism. This episode provides a comprehensive overview of the movement from its fringe status to becoming a significant force within American Christianity and political life. 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

Rep. James Talarico is a Christian fighting Christian nationalism in the Texas legislature. He’s also an 8th generation Texans; a former middle school teacher; and a seminarian. He calls school voucher schemes “scams,” and “welfare for the rich,” while labeling Gov. Abbott “Robinhood in reverse.” He went viral for opposing the Ten Commandments bill on religious grounds and is now squaring up against the Christian nationalist billionaire pastors trying to take over Texas – and the United States. He spoke to Brad about reproductive rights, education, religious freedom, and how Texans are fighting back. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus episodes, ad-free listening, access to the entire 500-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Subscribe now to Pure White: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pure-white/id1718974286 To Donate: venmo – @straightwhitejc Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/BradleyOnishi Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Preparing-War-Extremist-Christian-Nationalism/dp/1506482163 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 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Brad and Dan unpack the legacy of John MacArthur, the influential evangelical preacher whose death reignites conversations around authority, submission, and even slavery in conservative Christianity. They also examine new developments in the Epstein-Trump story and whether any of it could dent Trump’s support. The conversation then turns to the troubling fusion of empathy and authoritarianism in evangelical spaces—highlighting figures like Allie Beth Stuckey—and the political whiplash from GOP senators flipping on education funding and Medicaid cuts. What does it all mean for Trump and the future of the MAGA movement? 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 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ In this final episode taking on Allie Beth Stuckey’s defense of transphobia, Dan looks at her appeals to the Bible and her claims that she is seeking to “protect” women and children. He shows how she selectively appeals to the Bible to support the anti-trans positions she already holds, and how her insistence that she is “protecting” women and children actually works to mask her efforts to actively target and harm transgender and gender-nonconforming people. Check out this week’s episode to hear this and 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 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Brad discusses the potential breakup between Elon Musk-led tech fascists and the Christian nationalists who have been staunch supporters of Trump. Exploring the impact of JD Vance joining the Trump ticket and his traditionalist Catholic views, the episode delves into how this dynamic might play out. Brad emphasizes JD Vance's role as a bridge between Christian nationalist voters and Silicon Valley, suggesting the Trump-Musk feud may not significantly impact this coalition. The episode also highlights concerns about white ethno-nationalism and increased surveillance on immigrants, with detailed commentary on ICE's current activities and their implications for the upcoming elections. 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 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Brad and Dan begin with the devastating floods in Texas and Kristi Noem’s controversial disaster response before turning to a chilling development: a proposed concentration camp in Florida. From there, they examine the deeper forces driving these events—white Christian nationalism, the weakening of church-state separation, and newly proposed changes to the Johnson Amendment. With insight and urgency, Brad and Dan break down the theological narratives, policy shifts, and cultural consequences shaping today’s America. They also highlight why local elections and grassroots activism remain critical in the face of mounting extremism. 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