#401 — Christian Nationalism and the New Right
In this episode of Making Sense with Sam Harris, Katherine Stewart investigates the anti-democratic forces threatening U.S. democracy. She explores the Christian nationalist movement, which aims to establish a theocracy based on reactionary biblical laws. Stewart also examines the New Right, an authoritarian faction inspired by Nazi theorist Carl Schmitt that hopes to replace democracy with oligarchal rule.
The two movements have unified through initiatives like Project 2025, backed by wealthy oligarchs seeking to crush liberalism and maintain economic power. Stewart and Harris analyze the money, misinformation campaigns, and right-wing media narratives fueling these anti-democratic agendas. Their discussion sheds light on the disturbing tactics undermining democratic norms in America.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Feb 18, 2025 episode of the Making Sense with Sam Harris
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1-Page Summary
Components and Ideology of the U.S. Anti-Democratic Movement
Katherine Stewart investigates various groups within the anti-democratic movement, including Christian nationalism and the New Right, backed by oligarchs.
Christian Nationalism's Theocratic Goals
Christian nationalism, per Stewart, views America as founded on reactionary biblical laws as a Christian nation. Right-wing policy groups unite to advance this ideology of replacing pluralism with theocracy.
The New Right's Authoritarian Leanings
The New Right, inspired by Nazi theorist Carl Schmitt, aims to replace democracy with authoritarianism, merging with Christian nationalism through "Project 2025."
Oligarchs' Financial and Ideological Support
Wealthy oligarchs fund the anti-democratic agenda despite diverse beliefs, united in crushing liberalism to maintain power and economic privilege.
Tactics to Undermine Democracy (E.G. Project 2025)
Project 2025 outlines plans by the Heritage Foundation to reshape U.S. governance anti-democratically.
Project 2025 Architects In Influential Positions
Key figures behind Project 2025 like Russell Vogt and Brendan Carr now hold positions in the Trump administration, suggesting implementation of strategies.
Money, Disinformation, and Framing In Anti-Democratic Agendas
Sam Harris and Stewart explore how concentrated wealth, disinformation, and certain media shape anti-democratic narratives.
Wealthy Donors Eroding Democratic Norms
Wealthy donors fund right-wing think tanks and initiatives central to eroding democratic norms, uniting disparate reactionary forces.
Disinformation Separating Supporters From Reality
Disinformation campaigns redirect working-class frustrations unfairly, amplified by forces like Russia, deepening societal divides.
Right-Wing Media's Asymmetric Accountability
Stewart notes right-wing media faces little consequence for spreading misinformation, unlike elite liberal institutions held to higher standards.
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Counterarguments
- Christian nationalism may argue that their perspective is about preserving historical and cultural identity rather than imposing a theocracy.
- Advocates of the New Right might contend that their ideology is about restoring order and addressing perceived failures of liberal democracy, rather than outright authoritarianism.
- Some oligarchs might support anti-democratic movements out of genuine ideological beliefs rather than solely to maintain power and economic privilege.
- Project 2025 supporters could argue that their goal is to strengthen rather than undermine democracy by promoting policies they believe reflect the will of the people.
- Individuals in the Trump administration associated with Project 2025 might maintain that they are working within the democratic system to enact legitimate policy changes.
- Wealthy donors to right-wing think tanks might argue that they are supporting a diversity of political thought and contributing to a balanced political discourse.
- Some might suggest that disinformation is not solely a problem of the right-wing but is also present in left-wing media and political campaigns.
- Right-wing media could argue that they are held accountable by their viewership and market forces, and that they provide necessary counter-narratives to mainstream media.
Actionables
- You can enhance your media literacy by learning to identify misinformation and bias in news sources. Start by checking the credentials of authors and verifying information across multiple reputable outlets. For example, if you read a politically charged article, cross-reference the facts with established news organizations and fact-checking websites to see if the claims hold up.
- Engage in community dialogues to foster understanding and counteract societal divides. Organize or participate in local discussion groups that aim to bridge gaps between differing viewpoints. This could be as simple as starting a book club focused on democracy and pluralism, inviting people from various backgrounds to share their perspectives.
- Support transparency in political funding by using browser extensions that reveal the financial backers of politicians and policy groups. Install tools like 'Greenhouse' that can show you the campaign contributions of lawmakers when you visit their websites or read about them online. This empowers you to make more informed decisions about the political narratives you support or oppose.
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Components and Ideology of the U.S. Anti-Democratic Movement
Katherine Stewart’s investigative work highlights the various groups and ideologies within the anti-democratic movement in the United States, ranging from Christian nationalism to the New Right and supported by a coalition of oligarchs.
Christian Nationalism Aims to Create a Theocratic State Over a Pluralistic Democracy
Stewart’s investigative journalism focuses on groups like the religious right, which are associated with Christian nationalism's efforts against a pluralistic society.
Christian Nationalism Claims America Was Founded On Reactionary Biblical Laws as a Christian Nation
Stewart explains that Christian nationalism is both an ideology and a political movement, which posits that America was founded as a Christian nation based on reactionary interpretations of the Bible. It consists of right-wing policy groups, advocacy and legal organizations, data initiatives, legislative efforts, and networking organizations like the Council for National Policy, uniting different factions of the movement.
The New Right: A Faction Hostile to Democratic Principles and Institutions
In addition to Christian nationalism, the New Right plays a key role in the anti-democratic movement.
New Right Influenced by Nazi Theorist Carl Schmitt Aims to Replace Democracy With Authoritarianism
Stewart indicates a merger of ideologies between the Christian right and the New Right through "Project 2025." Many New Right members express hostility towards democracy and ideals of democratic institutions, drawing inspiration from Carl Schmitt, a Nazi political theorist. The Claremont Institute has come under scrutiny by Harris, who notes that while the Institute's scholars disavow racism, there is interest in ideologues like Schmitt, indicative of an inclination towards authoritarianism.
Oligarchs Funnel Vast Sums Into Anti-Democratic Agenda
Oligarchs play a significant financial and ideological role in the anti-democratic movement.
Oligarchs Share a Goal Of Crushing Liberalism, Maintaining Power, and Economic Privilege, De ...
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Components and Ideology of the U.S. Anti-Democratic Movement
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Actionables
- You can enhance your understanding of democratic principles by reading foundational texts like the U.S. Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and works by philosophers like John Locke and Montesquieu. This will provide you with a solid grounding in the ideas that underpin a pluralistic democracy, enabling you to critically assess claims about the nation's founding principles and engage in informed discussions about the nature of American democracy.
- Start a personal audit of where your money goes by researching the political and social stances of companies you buy from. If you find that a business supports agendas you disagree with, consider redirecting your spending to companies that align with your values. This empowers you to use your economic influence to support democratic principles and counteract the flow of money into anti-democratic agendas.
- Cultivate critical thinking skills by taking a free online course or ...
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Tactics to Undermine Democracy (E.G. Project 2025)
Project 2025, a massive document by the Heritage Foundation, contains plans that have raised concerns about potential anti-democratic changes in U.S. governance.
Project 2025 Plans to Reshape U.S. Governance Anti-Democratically
Project 2025 is seen as a reactionary plan to alter the governance in America. The involvement of former members of the Trump administration among the contributors indicates the possibility of implementation intentions within the government.
Key Architects of Project 2025 now Hold Influential Positions In the Trump Administration, Suggesting Implementation
A number of individuals who contributed to Project 2025 have secured influential positions within the Trump administration, implying that the plans described within the document might be put into action.
Allies Positioned In Key Roles to Advance Agenda
Russell Vogt, a leading figure associated with Project 2025 and the former Director of the Office of Management and Budget, is now positioned within the Trump administration, alongside others who are linked to the movement.
Russell Vogt and Brendan Carr From Project 2025 now In High-Level Positions
Vogt is not alone; other individuals conn ...
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Tactics to Undermine Democracy (E.G. Project 2025)
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can enhance your awareness of policy influence by tracking the career paths of specific individuals mentioned in public projects. For instance, if you learn about a public figure's involvement in a significant project, use online resources like government websites and reputable news articles to follow their career trajectory and understand how their roles may impact policy decisions.
- Develop a habit of cross-referencing public statements with policy proposals to discern ideological influences on governance. When you hear a public figure make a statement, take note of it and then look for related policy proposals or actions that align with that statement. This will help you connect the dots between ideology and policy.
- Encourage informed voting by crea ...
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Money, Disinformation, and Framing In Anti-Democratic Agendas
Sam Harris and Katherine Stewart delve into the role that wealth concentration, disinformation, and certain media outlets play in destabilizing democratic norms and empowering anti-democratic sentiments in American politics.
Wealth Concentration Destabilizes Politics and Empowers Anti-Democratic Forces
Harris and Stewart discuss how large concentrations of wealth influence American politics. Wealthy donors fund right-wing think tanks and initiatives that are crucial in eroding democratic norms. This funding supports various reactionary forces that may not share ideologies but unite in their support for certain anti-democratic agendas.
Wealthy Donors Fund Right-Wing Think Tanks and Initiatives to Erode Democratic Norms
Stewart's in-depth exploration in her book highlights how Christian nationalists, oligarchs, and other wealthy donors are intersecting to support each other's causes, despite their disparate ideologies. These relationships, often backed by significant funding, have consequentially destabilized the political system.
Disinformation and Conspiracy Theories Separate Anti-Democratic Supporters From Reality
Stewart and Harris touch on the utilization of disinformation and conspiracy theories within political rhetoric. They point out that disinformation campaigns redirect the frustrations of working people towards targets that may not be causally responsible.
Weaponized Narratives and Rhetoric Redirect Resentment Unfairly
In the context of these campaigns, Stewart identifies extremist ideas amplified by external forces like Russia, which deepens divisions within society. These tactics indecorously categorize moderate liberal progressives into the extreme "woke communist" slot, a misconception fueled by the right.
Right-Wing Media Amplifies Anti-Democratic Narratives and Holds Mainstream Institutions To Asymmetric Accountability
The conversation between Harris and Stewart further examines how mainstream institutions face disproportionate consequences for their missteps compared to right-wing media.
Elite Liberal Institutions Face Severe Consequences, While Right-Wing Media Spreads Misinformation With Little Consequence
Harris laments the harsh repercussions faced by elite institutions when errors occur. He describes the right-wing media as continuously "playing tennis without the net," facing no significant consequences for circulating misinformation. This provides an asymmetric landscape in which the responsibility and accountability of the press are unevenly distributed.
Stewart discusse ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Money, Disinformation, and Framing In Anti-Democratic Agendas
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- Wealthy donors across the political spectrum fund various think tanks and initiatives, not just right-wing ones, and this can be seen as part of the democratic process where different voices and interests seek representation.
- Concentrations of wealth can also lead to philanthropy and funding of public goods, which can have positive effects on society and democracy.
- Disinformation is not exclusive to any one political orientation; both right-wing and left-wing groups can engage in spreading misleading information.
- Weaponized narratives and rhetoric are used by various political groups to mobilize supporters, not just by right-wing or anti-democratic forces.
- Mainstream media institutions sometimes face criticism for perceived biases or inaccuracies, suggesting that accountability is not solely an issue for right-wing media.
- Right-wing media outlets argue that they provide alternative viewpoints to what they perceive as a predominantly left-leaning mainstream media landscape.
- Some argue that discussions on issues like transgender women in sports are legitimate ...
Actionables
- You can enhance your media literacy by creating a "truth checklist" for evaluating news sources. Start by drafting a list of questions to assess the credibility of information, such as the source's history of accuracy, the presence of supporting evidence, and the existence of sensationalist language. Before accepting information as true, run it through your checklist, and if it fails to meet the criteria, conduct further research or seek alternative viewpoints.
- Develop a habit of supporting fact-checking organizations by setting up monthly donations, even small ones. Choose nonpartisan groups that are dedicated to debunking misinformation and hold media accountable. This financial support helps sustain their operations and contributes to a healthier information ecosystem.
- Engage in constructive con ...
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