This week on The Enemies List, Rick is joined by Tim Alberta, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of the new book "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism." They talk about the complex relationship between white evangelicalism, extremism, and power politics.
Rick talks to Peter Simi, a sociology professor and expert in extremism, about the alarming rise of white supremacy in the U.S., where the movement has evolved from the overt image of the Klan to a slick, social media-driven force. Simi highlights how figures like Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson amplify these ideologies and how younger generations are being recruited online. He emphasizes the need for intervention programs to help individuals leave the movement and combat its growing influence.
Buy Peter Simi’s book – “Out of Hiding: Extremist White Supremacy and How It Can be Stopped” – at fine bookstores everywhere.
Brian Daitzman writes, "Trump’s presidency wasn’t just a period of poor leadership—it brought with it a contagion of chaos and division, a swarm of misery that feasted on the carcass of what was once the Republican Party."
The darkest corners of American society are bred on the internet. In this episode Rick is joined by journalist and author Elle Reeve to discuss her new book, "Black Pill: How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics." They dive into the rise of far-right extremism, the origins and impacts of 4chan and 8chan, and the evolution of white nationalist movements. Elle shares her firsthand experiences and insights into the cultural and political influence of online troll communities, the disturbing realities behind QAnon, and the personal toll on individuals drawn into these extremist ideologies.
What will our national religion be? Christian Nationalism survivor Andra Watkins writes that what "Christianity" would mean in a Christo-fascist nation would mean is not as obvious as one might think.
