Episode 31: On Money, Lies, and God with Katherine Stewart
In episode #31 I speak with author and investigative journalist Katherine Stewart about her new book, Money Lies and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy. What is Christian Nationalism (and what is it not)? What are the true anti-democratic goals of the “new right” and what are their strategies? How do misogyny and anti-trans rhetoric/policy serve these goals? And are they really trying to take away women’s right to vote? Katherine delineates five categories of actors in the nihilistic war against democracy: the funders, the thinkers, the sergeants, the power-players, and the foot soldiers. She exposes how “the thinkers” frequently rely on the ideas of Nazi political theorist Carl Schmitt, and Julie dips into “the thinkers” who have worked towards these goals on her own campus (remember John Eastman?).
A note: This conversation is shorter than many. Because of time constraints we were not able to talk about all of the major topics in this book. I highly recommend listeners read the book to learn more.
Texts, institutes, and people mentioned and discussed:
Katherine Stewart, Money Lies and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy
Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism
Katherine Stewart, The Good News Club: The Religious Right's Stealth Assault on America's Children
God and Country (film), directed by Dan Partland, written by Katherine Stewart
Andrew Perez, Andy Kroll and Justin Elliott, “How a Secretive Billionaire Handed His Fortune to the Architect of the Right-Wing Takeover of the Courts” (article on Barre Seid, Leonard Leo and the Marble Freedom Trust)
The Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization, University of Colorado Boulder
The National Organization for Marriage (editorial note: they are still going after Disney)
Doug Wilson, Christian Nationalist pastor (Wall Street Journal video)
Abby Johnson, anti-abortion activist on head-of-household voting (tweet)
Joseph Porter and Adam Gibbons, “Existential Risk and Equal Political Liberty”
Music by Ben Roberts : Benjamin.Roberts447@gmail.com
Comments and ideas to Juliealicecarr@gmail.com
Katherine Stewart
Katherine Stewart’s latest book, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy, is one of Foreign Affairs magazine’s Best Books of 2025. Her previous, award-winning title, The Power Worshippers: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy, formed the basis of the documentary feature God & Country, produced by Rob Reiner. She has covered the intersection of faith and politics for over 17 years; her work appears in The New York Times, Religion News Service, New Republic and others. Find her at @katherinestewart.bsky.social, @kathsstewart, substack.com/@katherinestewartbooks, and katherinestewart.me.
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