Trump and the Rise of Christian Nationalism

Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams August 14, 2025
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Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams

@assemblyrequiredpodcast

About

Let's face it, sometimes the world feels broken. We can see what needs fixing, yet more and more, it feels like the problems are too big and the bad guys are winning. But the truth is, they’re not. They’re just hoping we stop fighting. Welcome to Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams, a new podcast from Crooked Media and Democratic changemaker Stacey Abrams. Stacey knows better than anyone that societal shifts happen when a group of ordinary people decide that a problem is solvable, and are willing to pitch in and work towards the solution. Each week, Stacey will break down the biggest issues we face into digestible, actionable items, introduce us to the warriors for good already working towards solutions, strategize, and share tangible ways to get involved. Because we can't fix everything, everywhere, all at once; but we can each do something, somewhere, soon.

Video Description

Christian nationalism is an extremist, anti-democratic ideology rooted in the belief that the United States should be a nation for Christians to the exclusion of all others. In modern times, the Trump administration and its Republican allies have wielded this ideology as a weapon to divide Americans and implement an agenda via plans like the infamous Project 2025 that eviscerates the rights of immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community, questions the rights of women to vote, restores a freedom to discriminate against others and targets reproductive rights. This week, in response to a listener question asking what Christian nationalism has to do with the central tenets of Christianity, Stacey shares her own experience as a progressive, democratic Christian, pulling back the curtain on a core truth: the malice and hatred preached by right-wing religious leaders who shape our politics has nothing to do with Jesus’s actual teachings. She’s joined by Bishop William Barber, president of Repairers of the Breach, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, and professor at Yale Divinity School and Father Greg Boyle, Jesuit priest, founder of Homeboy Industries, and author. Together, they break down the threat Christian nationalism poses to democracy and show how faith, at its best, can be a powerful force for justice and progress. This inspiring conversation has so much to offer all our listeners, whether they come from a Christian background, some other faith background, or no faith at all. CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS: BILT - http://joinbilt.com/assembly ZBIOTICS - http://zbiotics.com/assembly CODE: ASSEMBLY WILD ALASKAN - http://wildalaskan.com/assembly CHAPTERS 00:00 - Defining “Christian Nationalism” 07:02 - What Are “Christian Values”? 13:02 - Faith in Political Action 17:36 - Ad Break 20:41 - The Origins of Homeboy Industries 27:33 - How Leaders Preach Faith but Act Differently 34:03 - Continuing “The Southern Strategy” 39:30 - Keeping Faith in the Face of Authoritarianism 47:09 - The Harm of Christian Nationalism 51:54 - Ad Break 53:53 - Defending Secular Democracy 01:02:40 - Stacey’s Toolkit Get tickets to CROOKED CON November 6-7 in Washington, D.C at crookedcon.com Subscribe to our channel! Photos courtesy of AP Photo Archive Learn & Do More: BE CURIOUS: To learn more about progressive Christian philosophy, liberation theology is a good place to start: read “A Theology of Liberation” by Gustavo Gutierrez and “The Cross and the Lynching Tree” by James Cone. SOLVE PROBLEMS: Join secular or interfaith organizations that can oppose the march of Christian nationalism and reassert our faith pluralism. Check out the Interfaith Alliance at interfaithalliance.org, whose mission is to advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America. Look for similar groups where you live — but remember, belonging must be met with volume and action. DO GOOD: Visit homeboyindustries.org to learn how you can volunteer or donate to support their programs. Check out poorpeoplescampaign.org to get involved with a movement led by the poor and dedicated to supporting those in poverty across the country. Crooked believes that we need a better conversation about politics, culture, and the world around us—one that doesn’t just focus on what’s broken, but what we can do to fix it. At a time when it’s increasingly easy to feel cynical or hopeless, former Obama staffers Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor have created a place where people can have sane conversations that inform, entertain, and inspire action. In 2017 they started Crooked with Pod Save America—a no-bullshit conversation about politics. Since then, we continue to add shows, voices, and opportunities for activism, because it’s up to all of us to do our part to build a better world. That’s it. End of mission. Want some pep talks, the most important things to do/know, and the occasional dog pic? Shoot us a text at (323) 405-9944 Written content at http://www.crooked.com Follow Crooked on Twitter https://twitter.com/crookedmedia Follow Crooked on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CrookedMedia/ Follow Crooked on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/

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