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Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] This conversation takes a direct look at one of the most debated claims in American politics: whether the United States was founded as a Christian nation. John Fea, a historian of early America, walks through how historians approach that question and why it often gets misunderstood in modern debates. He explains that history isn’t just about facts—it’s about context, causation, and change over time. Using examples from the founding era, Fea shows how different states handled religion in public life, including religious tests for office and established churches. At the same time, he highlights how those systems evolved as the country became more democratic and more religiously diverse. The conversation also unpacks common talking points like the Treaty of Tripoli and why it gets misused in today’s arguments. Fea makes clear that both sides often cherry-pick history to support present-day political agendas. The episode closes with a practical takeaway: you don’t need America to be a “Christian nation” to live out faith in public life. The real question is how individuals bring their values into a pluralistic democracy without distorting the past to justify it. Notable Resources Mentioned Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780664262495Why Study History?: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780801039652Guest Bio John Fea is a historian of early America and Professor of American History at Messiah University. His work focuses on the relationship between religion and public life in the United States, particularly during the founding era. He is the author of Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? and Why Study History?, where he explores how historical thinking can bring clarity to modern political and cultural debates. Support the show 🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest? 👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Host, Will Wright: [email protected]📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content: faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] The middle class in America didn’t just happen—it was built through government policies after World War II. In this episode, law professor Mechele Dickerson explains how things like affordable housing, stable jobs, and access to education helped create a strong middle class—and why those same supports have weakened over time. She breaks down why it’s harder today to afford basic things like housing, college, and healthcare, even for people who are working hard. The conversation shows how education, jobs, debt, and housing are all connected. When one becomes unaffordable, it affects everything else. Dickerson also explains why common ideas like “just work harder” or “cut spending” don’t match the reality many people are facing today. Wages have stayed mostly flat while costs have gone up, and many jobs no longer offer the stability or benefits they used to. The episode also looks at bigger economic ideas like trickle-down economics and why those policies haven’t helped most middle-class families. Instead, wealth has increasingly moved to the top while more people struggle to stay financially stable. This conversation focuses on what’s actually happening to the middle class in America, why it matters, and what kinds of policy changes could help rebuild economic stability for everyday people. Buy The Middle-Class New Deal: Restoring Upward Mobility and the American Dream:  https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780520423398 Guest Bio  Mechele Dickerson is a law professor at the University of Texas whose work focuses on housing, consumer finance, and economic justice. Her research examines how financial systems shape everyday life, especially for families navigating homeownership, debt, and economic instability. She is the author of The Middle Class New Deal, which explores how policy decisions built—and are now reshaping—the American middle class. Support the show 🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest? 👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Host, Will Wright: [email protected]📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content: faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram sit down with Bunni Pounds to unpack America Reads the Bible, a national initiative tied to the 250th anniversary of the United States. The project brings together leaders from government, ministry, and culture to publicly read Scripture with the goal of addressing what Pounds calls a growing problem: biblical illiteracy. The conversation explores how Scripture has shaped American political thought, why this moment matters in today’s cultural and technological landscape, and what it looks like to engage faith without political prescription. They also examine tensions around representation, unity across denominations, and how Christians can approach civic engagement in a polarized environment. Relevant Links America Reads the Bible: https://americareadsthebible.comChristians Engaged: https://christiansengaged.orgGreat American Pure Flix (livestream platform mentioned): https://www.pureflix.comGuest Bio Bunni Pounds is the founder and president of Christians Engaged, a nonprofit organization that equips Christians to participate in civic life through prayer, voting, and community involvement. She spent over a decade working with members of Congress, gaining firsthand experience in how policy and leadership decisions are shaped. Today, her work focuses on connecting biblical understanding with civic responsibility, helping individuals engage political issues through the lens of faith. She is also the author of Stepping Up to Lead: Rebuilding a Nation in the Footsteps of Nehemiah, which explores leadership and national renewal from a biblical perspective. Support the show 🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest? 👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Host, Will Wright: [email protected]📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content: faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram sit down with sociologists Michael Emerson and Glenn Bracey to unpack the core ideas behind their book The Religion of Whiteness. The conversation explores a challenging but important question: how cultural identity—specifically whiteness—can operate as a system of belief that competes with or even overrides Christian teaching. Emerson and Bracey define the “religion of whiteness” as a set of beliefs, practices, and symbols that elevate white identity as sacred while marginalizing what falls outside of it. They walk through the data behind their research, including survey findings showing how white Christians often respond differently to biblical teachings when those teachings challenge racial hierarchies. The discussion also examines how symbols like a white Jesus, the merging of the cross and the American flag, and even attitudes toward political violence can reinforce this framework. The episode doesn’t stay abstract. It connects these ideas to real-world dynamics inside churches—why conversations about race are often resisted, how “stay out of politics” can function as a boundary, and why awareness itself can feel threatening. This is a direct, data-driven conversation about faith, identity, and the tension between cultural loyalty and religious conviction. Guest Bio Michael Emerson is a sociologist specializing in race, religion, and inequality in the United States. He is currently a professor at Rice University and is widely known for his research on how religious communities shape racial attitudes and structures. He is the co-author of Divided by Faith and The Religion of Whiteness.  Glenn E. Bracey II is a sociologist at Villanova University whose work focuses on race, religion, and social inequality. His research examines how systems of belief and power interact within American institutions, particularly in the context of race and Christianity. He is the co-author of The Religion of Whiteness. Relevant Links The Religion of Whiteness by Michael Emerson and Glenn Bracey: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780197746288Divided by Faith by Michael Emerson and Christian Smith: https://booSupport the show 🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest? 👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Host, Will Wright: [email protected]📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content: faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram sit down with political theorist and historian Hyrum Lewis to challenge one of the most basic assumptions in American political thinking: the left-right spectrum. Drawing from his work on The Myth of the Left and Right, Lewis explains why reducing politics to a single line fails to capture how people actually think and act. Instead of treating political identity as one fixed position, he argues for a more granular approach—one that looks at individual issues on their own terms. The conversation moves beyond political labels into deeper questions about truth, history, and how we interpret the American founding. Lewis breaks down why both conservatives and progressives engage in preserving and changing society, and why those labels often obscure more than they clarify. They also explore how history is used in modern political debates—especially around the claim that America was founded as a Christian nation. Lewis offers a nuanced framework for understanding the founders, arguing that while Christian ideas shaped the culture, the founding itself reflects a broader and more complex intellectual tradition. The episode closes with a practical takeaway: how to think more clearly about politics, avoid false binaries, and engage issues with more precision and humility. Guest Bio Hyrum Lewis is a professor of history and political theory at Brigham Young University–Idaho, where he leads the American Foundations program. His work focuses on the history of ideology and how political ideas shape culture and society. He is the co-author of The Myth of the Left and Right and the author of There Is a God: How to Respond to Atheism in the Last Days. His research challenges common assumptions about political identity and encourages a more nuanced understanding of how beliefs are formed.  Relevant Links The Myth of the Left and Right by Hyrum Lewis and Verlan Lewis: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780197680629There Is a God: How to Respond to Atheism in the Last Days by Hyrum Lewis: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781462120413Support the show 🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest? 👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Host, Will Wright: [email protected]📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content: faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] What does it actually mean to “deconstruct” your faith—and why are so many people doing it? In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram sit down with Margaret Rose Bronson, founder of Deconstruction Doulas, a support network helping people navigate religious trauma and high-control church environments. Drawing from her own experience inside patriarchal and authoritarian church systems, Margaret explains the difference between deconstruction and deconversion, and why that distinction matters. The conversation explores how certain theological frameworks can lead to control, shame, and harm—particularly for women—and how these systems often operate beneath the surface of otherwise “normal” church communities. Margaret also breaks down the role of a “deconstruction doula,” someone who walks alongside individuals as they process their beliefs, ask hard questions, and rebuild their understanding of faith on their own terms. They also discuss the real-world cost of deconstruction, including shunning, loss of community, and long-term emotional impact on individuals and families. This episode provides a grounded, firsthand look at how religious systems can both shape and distort faith—and what it takes to reclaim it. Deconstruction Doulas: https://www.deconstructiondoulas.com The Rise of Christian Nationalism (CNN): https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/the-whole-story-with-anderson-cooper/episodes/10f01a2c-b8ef-11f0-99d9-ebc70f76e43c Guest Bio: Margaret Rose Bronson is the founder of Deconstruction Doulas, a support network helping people navigate faith deconstruction and recover from religious trauma. A survivor of high-control church environments, she now works with individuals rebuilding their beliefs, identity, and sense of autonomy after leaving harmful systems. Support the show 🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest? 👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Host, Will Wright: [email protected]📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content: faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] *Note* Appologies for my audio, it was a bad microphone day! - Will  What role does Christian Zionism play in shaping American politics and foreign policy? In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright sits down with investigative journalist Kiera Butler of Mother Jones to unpack the growing influence of Christian Zionism—particularly within charismatic evangelical movements and political leadership. Drawing from her recent reporting, Butler explains how theological beliefs about Israel, biblical prophecy, and the end times are influencing real-world decisions, including reactions to U.S. military action in Iran. The conversation explores the divide within Christian nationalist circles, where some groups celebrate geopolitical conflict as part of a prophetic timeline while others reject intervention entirely. Butler also breaks down the rise of movements like the New Apostolic Reformation, the role of influential figures and organizations, and how these ideas are spreading from pulpits to policy. They also examine how changes to the Johnson Amendment, generational shifts among evangelicals, and the growing political visibility of Christian Zionism could shape upcoming elections. Trump’s Holy Warriors Finally Got the Apocalypse They’ve Prayed For: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/03/trumps-holy-warriors-finally-got-the-apocalypse-theyve-prayed-for/ Guest Bio Kiera Butler is a senior investigative reporter at Mother Jones, where she covers religion, politics, and the growing influence of movements like Christian nationalism and Christian Zionism. Her reporting focuses on how belief systems shape real-world policy and political behavior. Support the show 🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest? 👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Host, Will Wright: [email protected]📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content: faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] What happens when faith becomes a source of harm instead of healing? In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram sit down with therapist Morgan Piercy, who specializes in religious trauma, deconstruction, and identity rebuilding after high-control faith environments. Drawing from both clinical experience and personal background, Piercy explains how religious trauma forms, why it often surfaces after someone leaves a church, and how it reshapes identity, relationships, and mental health. The conversation breaks down key concepts like the overlap between trauma and deconstruction, the role of grief and loss of certainty, and how systems of control can operate within religious spaces. Piercy also introduces practical frameworks like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and the BITE model to help listeners understand how belief systems can influence behavior, thought patterns, and emotional well-being. The episode also explores how pastors and faith leaders can better recognize signs of distress in their congregations, the psychological impact of purity culture and moral anxiety, and the challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals navigating faith communities. Throughout the discussion, the focus stays on autonomy, agency, and the process of rebuilding a belief system that aligns with one’s lived experience. This is a grounded conversation for anyone working through questions about faith, identity, and what it means to move forward after leaving a rigid religious environment. Resources & Links Morgan Piercy Website: https://www.morganpiercy.comDeconstruction Counseling: https://www.deconstructionkc.comGuest Bio  Morgan Piercy is a licensed professional counselor who specializes in religious trauma, faith deconstruction, and identity development after high-control religious environments. Her work focuses on helping individuals navigate complex trauma, anxiety, OCD, and the psychological impact of rigid belief systems. Drawing from both clinical training and personal experience, she uses evidence-based approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help clients rebuild autonomy and ali Support the show 🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest? 👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Host, Will Wright: [email protected]📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content: faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] What if the abortion debate is missing the most important framework entirely? In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram sit down with Angela Weszely, founder of ProGrace and author of Becoming ProGrace. Drawing from her experience in both ministry and pregnancy support work, Angela explains why the traditional “pro-life vs pro-choice” divide breaks down—and how a different, Jesus-centered approach could reshape the conversation. They explore how political language fuels division, why many Christians feel tension with both sides, and what it would look like to prioritize grace, dignity, and shared responsibility for both women and children. This conversation moves beyond policy debates and focuses on how the church can better reflect the character of Jesus in one of the most contentious issues in society. Learn more: https://prograce.org/ Book: Becoming ProGrace: Expanding the Abortion Conversation Beyond Life Versus Choice: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781514011683 Guest Bio  Angela Weszely is the founder and CEO of ProGrace, an organization that equips Christians to engage conversations about abortion in ways rooted in the example of Jesus rather than political reflexes. She previously spent nearly a decade leading development for a pregnancy support organization in Chicago, where her experiences exposed the tension between messaging and practice in the abortion space. Her work now focuses on reframing the conversation around grace, dignity, and shared responsibility. She is the author of Becoming ProGrace, where she outlines a new approach aimed at helping Christians move beyond the traditional pro-life vs pro-choice divide. Support the show 🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest? 👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Host, Will Wright: [email protected]📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content: faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] What happens when your faith tradition and your political reality collide? In this episode, we sit down with Peter Beinartto unpack the moral and theological tensions shaping the war in Gaza and the broader debate around Zionism. Beinart walks through his personal evolution from liberal Zionist to a critic of the current Israeli framework, grounded in both lived experience and Jewish theological reflection. The conversation moves beyond surface-level talking points. Beinart explains how Zionism developed historically, how it became tied to Jewish safety, and why he now believes that framework creates moral contradictions—especially when it requires unequal treatment of Palestinians. He makes a case that systems built on political supremacy tend to generate instability and violence, drawing comparisons to apartheid South Africa and Jim Crow America. We also dig into something your audience will recognize: the role of religious narratives in shaping political behavior. Beinart draws a clear parallel between Jewish nationalism and Christian nationalism, arguing that when a state becomes central to religious identity, it can displace core theological commitments like human dignity. He points to how scripture—both Jewish and Christian—can be interpreted either to justify violence or to challenge it, depending on the framework applied. The episode closes with a practical takeaway: if people want a more grounded and humane understanding of the conflict, they need to listen directly to Palestinian voices. Without that, the conversation stays abstract—and disconnected from the human cost. Book: Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780593803899 Guest Bio: Peter Beinart is a professor of journalism and political science at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. He is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times and editor-at-large of Jewish Currents. Beinart previously served as editor of The New Republic (1999–2006) and has written extensively on U.S. foreign policy, Zionism, and Jewish identity. His latest book, Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning, examines the moral and theological challenges facing Jewish communities in Support the show 🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest? 👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Host, Will Wright: [email protected]📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content: faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] In this episode of Faithful Politics, Pastor Josh Burtram sits down with Old Testament scholar and author L. Daniel Hawk to unpack the theological roots and lasting impact of Manifest Destiny. What many Americans were taught as a story of courage and expansion is reexamined through a harder lens—one that reveals how Christian language and scripture were used to justify colonization, displacement, and violence against Indigenous peoples. Hawk explains how ideas like the Doctrine of Discovery and interpretations of Genesis were used to frame land expansion as part of God’s will. He walks through how these beliefs became embedded in American identity, shaping both policy and culture, and why those narratives still matter today. The conversation also explores how violence was often initiated by settlers, how historical memory has been shaped to obscure that reality, and how Christian institutions were complicit in reinforcing these systems. The episode closes with a forward-looking discussion on what it means to confront this history honestly. Hawk offers practical steps for listeners—learning local history, engaging Indigenous voices, and rethinking how faith can be expressed without repeating colonial patterns. This is a grounded, historically informed conversation about faith, responsibility, and what it takes to build a more honest public witness. Buy Undoing Manifest Destiny: Settler America, Christian Colonism, and the Pursuit of Justice:  https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781514008645 Guest Bio L. Daniel Hawk is a professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Ashland Theological Seminary and an ordained United Methodist minister. His work focuses on biblical narrative, especially conquest texts like Joshua, and how scripture has been interpreted in ways that shape moral imagination and public life. He is the author of Undoing Manifest Destiny: Settler America, Christian Colonism, and the Pursuit of Justice, where he examines how theological ideas were used to justify colonization and how those narratives continue to influence American culture and Christianity today. Support the show 🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest? 👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Host, Will Wright: [email protected]📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content: faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram speak with Rachel Laser, President and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, about the growing legal and political battles over religion in American public life. Laser argues the country is in a “code red” moment for church-state separation as court rulings and policy efforts increasingly blur the lines between religious belief and government authority. The conversation explores recent controversies including efforts to post the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, parental rights claims affecting school curriculum, and religious freedom challenges to abortion laws. Laser explains how these cases reflect deeper tensions in a religiously diverse country where different faith traditions often interpret moral and legal questions very differently. Throughout the discussion, the hosts examine how these conflicts are shaping debates over religious liberty, public education, and constitutional protections, while asking whether church-state separation remains the best framework for protecting both faith and pluralism in American democracy. Guest Bio Rachel Laser is the President and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to defending religious freedom and ensuring that religion and government remain separate. She has spent her career working in civil rights advocacy and public policy, including leadership roles at the Open Society Foundations and other national organizations focused on democracy and human rights. Resources and Links Americans United for Separation of Church and State https://www.au.org Summit for Religious Freedom https://www.thesrf.org Support the show 🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest? 👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Host, Will Wright: [email protected]📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content: faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] What if the basic way we talk about politics is fundamentally flawed? In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram sit down with Verlan Lewis, professor of constitutional studies at Utah Valley University and co-author of The Myth of Left and Right: How the Political Spectrum Misleads and Harms America. Lewis argues that the familiar political spectrum dividing society into “left” and “right” oversimplifies political reality and distorts how Americans understand issues, parties, and even each other. Lewis explains how the left-right framework emerged historically, why it became dominant in modern political discourse, and how it encourages ideological tribalism. Instead of seeing politics as a complex set of issues where people may agree on some topics and disagree on others, the spectrum pushes citizens to sort themselves into rigid teams. According to Lewis, this mindset can reduce intellectual humility, weaken meaningful dialogue, and contribute to the rising hostility in American politics. The conversation explores how media ecosystems reinforce ideological identities, why political beliefs often cluster together even when they have little logical connection, and how faith communities can offer a different approach to civic engagement. Lewis suggests moving beyond ideological labels and focusing on individual issues, allowing for more thoughtful discussion and collaboration across differences. For listeners interested in understanding polarization, political identity, and how faith might shape a healthier civic culture, this episode offers a thoughtful examination of the assumptions that structure modern political debate. The Myth of Left and Right: How the Political Spectrum Misleads and Harms America: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780197680629Guest BioVerlan Lewis is an associate professor of political science and constitutional studies at Utah Valley University and a fellow at the university’s Center for Constitutional Studies. He is co-author of the book The Myth of Left and Right: How the Political Spectrum Misleads and Harms America, which challenges the idea that modern politics can be accurately understood through a simple left-right ide Support the show 🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest? 👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Host, Will Wright: [email protected]📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content: faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] What do the numbers actually tell us about Christian nationalism in the United States? In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram sit down with Melissa Deckman, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), to walk through the latest national data on Christian nationalism and what researchers are seeing across the country. Deckman explains how PRRI measures Christian nationalism, why the concept is often misunderstood in public debate, and what the data reveals about who tends to hold these views. The conversation explores how religion, identity, and politics intersect in American life, along with the demographic and cultural patterns researchers are tracking. They also discuss how survey questions are designed, why some people react strongly to the label “Christian nationalism,” and how researchers try to measure belief systems without reducing complex identities to a single label. For anyone trying to understand the role of religion in American politics today, this conversation offers a clear look at what the research actually shows.  Recommended Links and Resources PRRI – Public Religion Research Institute: https://www.prri.orgMapping Christian Nationalism Across the 50 States: Insights from PRRI’s 2025 American Values Atlas: https://prri.org/research/mapping-christian-nationalism-across-the-50-states-insights-from-prris-2025-american-values-atlas/Guest Bio Melissa Deckman is the CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), one of the nation’s leading research organizations studying the intersection of religion, culture, and politics. She previously served as the Louis L. Goldstein Professor of Public Affairs at Washington College and is a political scientist whose work focuses on religion, gender, and civic engagement in American political life. Support the show 🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest? 👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Host, Will Wright: [email protected]📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content: faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] How secure are America’s elections, and what actually happens behind the scenes when votes are cast and counted? In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Josh Burtram sit down with election journalist Jessica Huseman, Editorial Director of VoteBeat, to walk through the real mechanics of the U.S. voting system. The conversation explores the proposed SAVE Act and what it would change about voter registration, why some counties are returning to hand-counting ballots, and the logistical strain election administrators face as redistricting reshapes districts just before key primaries. Huseman also addresses claims about non-citizen voting, the FBI raid on stored ballots in Fulton County, and how technical systems and local election offices adapt when political decisions force rapid changes. The discussion pulls back the curtain on how elections actually work on the ground, why misinformation spreads so easily, and why the biggest fights over election legitimacy often happen after the ballots are cast.  Guest Bio: Jessica Huseman is the Editorial Director at VoteBeat, a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to covering election administration and voting policy across the United States. She is an award-winning investigative journalist who has spent years reporting on how elections are run at the local and state level, focusing on the mechanics of voting systems, election law, and the people responsible for carrying out elections. Huseman previously reported for ProPublica and has become one of the country’s leading journalists covering election infrastructure, misinformation, and voting policy. Relevant Links: VoteBeat – https://www.votebeat.org Support the show 🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest? 👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Host, Will Wright: [email protected]📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content: faithfulpolitics.substack.com