#401 — Christian Nationalism and the New Right

February 18, 2025

32 min episode · 2 min read

Christian Nationalism

Episode

32 min

Read time

2 min

AI-Generated Summary

Published Dec 25, 2025

Key Takeaways

✓Project 2025 Implementation: Russell Vogt, primary author of the Heritage Foundation's 900-page Project 2025 blueprint, now directs Office of Management and Budget alongside other document contributors like Brendan Carr and John Radcliffe occupying key administration positions despite Trump's campaign denials.
✓Christian Nationalist Infrastructure: The movement operates through dense organizational networks including pastoral groups like Watchmen on the Wall and Faith Wins that mobilize congregations disproportionately during elections, plus policy groups, legal advocacy organizations, and sophisticated data initiatives coordinated through the Council for National Policy.
✓Oligarch Funding Coalition: Wealthy benefactors including the Wilkes brothers, Tim Dunn, DeVos-Prince family, and Sky Foundation fund anti-democratic projects despite varying religious beliefs from evangelical to atheistic, united by opposition to regulation, desire for tax privileges, and defensiveness against criticism of wealth concentration.
✓New Right Intellectual Influence: Thinkers associated with Claremont Institute draw inspiration from Nazi political theorist Carl Schmidt, openly advocate against democracy's principles while claiming to revere founders, and promote monarchical governance models through figures like Curtis Yarvin who influence Silicon Valley oligarchs.

What It Covers

Sam Harris interviews journalist Katherine Stewart about her book examining how Christian nationalism, wealthy funders, and new right intellectuals coordinate to dismantle democratic institutions through Project 2025 and Trump administration appointments.

Key Questions Answered

•Project 2025 Implementation: Russell Vogt, primary author of the Heritage Foundation's 900-page Project 2025 blueprint, now directs Office of Management and Budget alongside other document contributors like Brendan Carr and John Radcliffe occupying key administration positions despite Trump's campaign denials.
•Christian Nationalist Infrastructure: The movement operates through dense organizational networks including pastoral groups like Watchmen on the Wall and Faith Wins that mobilize congregations disproportionately during elections, plus policy groups, legal advocacy organizations, and sophisticated data initiatives coordinated through the Council for National Policy.
•Oligarch Funding Coalition: Wealthy benefactors including the Wilkes brothers, Tim Dunn, DeVos-Prince family, and Sky Foundation fund anti-democratic projects despite varying religious beliefs from evangelical to atheistic, united by opposition to regulation, desire for tax privileges, and defensiveness against criticism of wealth concentration.
•New Right Intellectual Influence: Thinkers associated with Claremont Institute draw inspiration from Nazi political theorist Carl Schmidt, openly advocate against democracy's principles while claiming to revere founders, and promote monarchical governance models through figures like Curtis Yarvin who influence Silicon Valley oligarchs.

Notable Moment

Stewart describes attending America Fest with 20,000 MAGA supporters where every speaker addressed transgender athletes while 11.4 million children live in poverty and gun violence remains the leading cause of death among youth, illustrating how identity issues distract from economic problems.

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