From Republican Darling to Political Outcast with David French

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The Sacred

Theos

218 episodes

2 days ago

The Sacred is a podcast about our deepest values, the stories that shape us and how we can build empathy and understanding between people who are very different. Each episode features a conversation with someone who has a public voice, from academics to journalists, playwrights and politicians. We ask them where they have come from, what they are trying to do and what might help heal our very divided public conversations. The Sacred is hosted by Elizabeth Oldfield, former director of Theos. For more information about the people and ideas behind the podcast, visit https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/about/who-we-are or follow us on Twitter @theosthinktank, @sacred_podcast and @ESOldfield.

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Relationships

Society & Culture

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From Republican Darling to Political Outcast with David French

The Sacred

1 hour 9 minutes 12 seconds

3 weeks ago

From Republican Darling to Political Outcast with David French

What happens when standing by your principles means losing your community?

David French was once a Republican darling - a military veteran in Iraq, a pro-life lawyer, and a defender of religious liberty. But when he publicly opposed Donald Trump in 2016, everything changed. His church turned on him, his family received threats, and he became controversial figure in political and religious debates.

In this conversation, David reflects on the cost of choosing virtue over political loyalty, why free speech still matters even when it's painful, and what it’s like to be exiled by your tribe.

We talk about moral courage, the state of American evangelicalism, and what it means to stay principled in a world that rewards tribalism.

🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast

📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/

💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

✍️ Follow David French: https://x.com/davidafrench?lang=en

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:07 What is Sacred to you? David French answers

01:29 Defining Virtue in American Society

06:26 When Have Your Virtues Been Tested?

14:42 Formative Experiences and Moral Foundations

18:40 Political Awakening and Conservative Values

27:27 The Role of Civil Liberties in Society

30:47 The Importance of Defending Difficult Speech

33:31 The Importance of Free Speech

36:39 Serving in the Iraq war

39:52 Transformative Experiences of War

44:10 Political Identity and Church Community Rejection

50:49 The Impact of Community Rejection

54:52 Staying True to Principles Over Tribes

Keywords:

David French - veteran, constitutional lawyer, political commentator, and lifelong conservative - joins The Sacred to talk about the cost of staying true to his values. In this episode, he shares how refusing to support Donald Trump led to being “cancelled” by his church, receiving threats, and becoming a controversial figure in conservative Christian circles. We explore free speech, religious freedom, evangelical politics, cancel culture, moral courage, integrity, and the crisis of virtue in public life. David speaks about his military service in Iraq, his time defending civil liberties, and why he believes principles should come before political parties. This conversation is for anyone wrestling with faith and politics, Christian identity, the culture wars, the evangelical church, or what it means to live with integrity in polarised times. Topics include: Christian conservatism, Never Trump, leaving church, freedom of speech, spiritual exile, republican, political pressure, and how to remain faithful under fire.