Straight White American Jesus

Rep. James Talarico is a Christian fighting Christian nationalism in the Texas legislature. He’s also an 8th generation Texans; a former middle school teacher; and a seminarian. He calls school voucher schemes “scams,” and “welfare for the rich,” while labeling Gov. Abbott “Robinhood in reverse.” He went viral for opposing the Ten Commandments bill on religious grounds and is now squaring up against the Christian nationalist billionaire pastors trying to take over Texas – and the United States. He spoke to Brad about reproductive rights, education, religious freedom, and how Texans are fighting back.

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Brad and Dan unpack the legacy of John MacArthur, the influential evangelical preacher whose death reignites conversations around authority, submission, and even slavery in conservative Christianity.

They also examine new developments in the Epstein-Trump story and whether any of it could dent Trump’s support.

The conversation then turns to the troubling fusion of empathy and authoritarianism in evangelical spaces—highlighting figures like Allie Beth Stuckey—and the political whiplash from GOP senators flipping on education funding and Medicaid cuts. What does it all mean for Trump and the future of the MAGA movement?

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In this final episode taking on Allie Beth Stuckey’s defense of transphobia, Dan looks at her appeals to the Bible and her claims that she is seeking to “protect” women and children. He shows how she selectively appeals to the Bible to support the anti-trans positions she already holds, and how her insistence that she is “protecting” women and children actually works to mask her efforts to actively target and harm transgender and gender-nonconforming people. Check out this week’s episode to hear this and more.

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Brad discusses the potential breakup between Elon Musk-led tech fascists and the Christian nationalists who have been staunch supporters of Trump. Exploring the impact of JD Vance joining the Trump ticket and his traditionalist Catholic views, the episode delves into how this dynamic might play out.

Brad emphasizes JD Vance's role as a bridge between Christian nationalist voters and Silicon Valley, suggesting the Trump-Musk feud may not significantly impact this coalition. The episode also highlights concerns about white ethno-nationalism and increased surveillance on immigrants, with detailed commentary on ICE's current activities and their implications for the upcoming elections.

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Brad and Dan begin with the devastating floods in Texas and Kristi Noem’s controversial disaster response before turning to a chilling development: a proposed concentration camp in Florida. From there, they examine the deeper forces driving these events—white Christian nationalism, the weakening of church-state separation, and newly proposed changes to the Johnson Amendment.

With insight and urgency, Brad and Dan break down the theological narratives, policy shifts, and cultural consequences shaping today’s America. They also highlight why local elections and grassroots activism remain critical in the face of mounting extremism.

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Allie Beth Stuckey advances her argument against the legitimacy and reality of transgender identity by considering the testimonial of an individual who transitioned to a gender different from their assigned birth gender, only to “detransition” later, and by appealing to the theory of “Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria.” In this episode, Dan shows why these appeals are not only not compelling, but how they actually prove the opposite of what Stuckey intends. The testimonial she recounts is of an individual who never fit the diagnostic criteria for gender dysphoria, and the theory of “Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria” is a pseudo-scientific theory without broad acceptance or any clinical basis. Listen to this week’s episode to hear more!

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In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad welcomes Rachel Cockerell, author of Melting Point, for a conversation about a little-known chapter in American and Jewish history: the Galveston Movement.

More than a century ago, 10,000 Russian Jews immigrated to Texas through a coordinated effort led in part by Rachel’s great-grandfather and inspired by Zionist thinker Israel Zangwill. Rachel shares the personal journey that led her to uncover this buried history and write Melting Point, which explores themes of migration, memory, and identity.

Together, Brad and Rachel examine how this movement reframes common narratives about Jewish immigration, the American frontier, and what it means to seek a homeland. They discuss the spiritual dimensions of migration, the complexity of assimilation, and the ongoing relevance of these themes in the context of current immigration debates.

This episode weaves together history, personal legacy, and timely questions about belonging, borders, and the meaning of “home” in America.

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Brad and Dan begin with a deep dive into the GOP’s controversial new bill targeting Medicaid access and how it ties into white Christian nationalist ideology.

The conversation moves to JD Vance’s pro-natalist rhetoric and his troubling comments on immigration, revealing the racial and religious undertones driving the GOP’s messaging. Brad and Dan also discuss Trump’s escalating feud with Elon Musk and the disturbing implications of Trump’s remarks about Zoran Momani.

Throughout the episode, Brad and Dan connect the dots between these stories—examining how immigration, xenophobia, and Christian nationalism are shaping American politics and threatening democratic norms.

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Allie Beth Stuckey insists that gender and biological sex are the same thing, that there are two binary genders, and that gender identity and gender dysphoria are myths. In support of these claims, she offers simplistic appeals to “science” and the story of a woman who “detransitioned” from a transmale identity back to her previous female identity. In this episode, Dan takes a close look at these dimensions of Stuckey’s argument to show that gender and sex are not the same thing and that the story of “detransition” she offers actually demonstrates the opposite of what she thinks. Listen in to hear more!

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC

Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163

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In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad sits down with Dr. Ruth Braunstein, professor at Johns Hopkins University and author of My Tax Dollars. Together, they explore an unexpected question: Can paying taxes be a moral act?

Far from being a dry civic obligation, Braunstein argues that taxation can serve as a collective ritual—one that reflects our values, builds solidarity, and fuels moral debate. The conversation traces the historical evolution of tax narratives in the U.S., from patriotic propaganda during World War II to the rise of anti-tax movements tied to abortion, war, and distrust in government.

They also unpack the cultural shift from taxes as a civic duty to something to be avoided or even bragged about, as seen in Donald Trump’s infamous comment on dodging taxes. Throughout the episode, Braunstein sheds light on how Americans’ attitudes toward taxation reveal deeper fault lines around democracy, governance, and belonging.

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