Straight White American Jesus
Bradley Onishi + Daniel Miller
An in-depth examination of the culture and politics of Christian Nationalism and Evangelicalism by two ex-evangelical ministers-turned-religion professors. If you have ever wondered what social and historical forces led white evangelicals to usher Donald Trump into the White House this is the show for you. As former insiders and critical scholars of religion, Dan Miller and Bradley Onishi have a unique perspective on the Religious Right. Guests have included Chrissy Stroop, R. Marie Griffith, Janelle Wong, Randall Balmer, Katherine Stewart, and many others.
Episodes
Mentioned books
8 snips
May 13, 2026 • 35min
It's in the Code ep 190: “The Atheists Are Coming!”
A deep look at how a political thinker repackages masculinity using Christian language while emptying its meaning. The strategy of labeling opponents as 'atheists' to simplify and attack cultural foes gets picked apart. The episode traces flawed historical claims and contrasts shallow notions of sacrifice with richer faith-based models. It closes by previewing the final discussion on masculine authority.
May 12, 2026 • 41min
The Myth of Religious Freedom w/ Reza Aslan and Peter Manseau
Peter Manseau, historian and Smithsonian curator who wrote One Nation, Under Gods, reexamines America’s founding myths. He traces contested religious freedom from Puritan theocracy to the struggles of Jews, Muslims, Native peoples, and enslaved Africans. Short, sharp conversations on how pluralism was forged through conflict, the danger of Christian nationalism, and signs of religious creativity and resilience.
May 10, 2026 • 58min
The Sunday Interview: Paul Pressler, the SBC Takeover, and a Culture of Power and Abuse
Robert Downen, Texas Monthly investigative reporter who exposed Paul Pressler’s role in reshaping the Southern Baptist Convention, joins to unpack power, politics, and tactics. He details elite networks, rule manipulation, tracking pastors, and how denominational control morphed into national political influence. He also outlines allegations and a culture that enabled silence around abuse.
20 snips
May 8, 2026 • 1h 6min
Weekly Roundup: The Grownups in Charge? SCOTUS, Gerrymandering & White Christian Power
A sharp look at recent Supreme Court moves and aggressive redistricting reshaping Black-majority districts. Clips and analysis expose Christian nationalist rhetoric tied to plans for minority rule. Discussion connects historical anti-democratic strategies to modern appeals to a ruling “grownups” class and lays out reforms being proposed to blunt partisan maps.
8 snips
May 6, 2026 • 1h 22min
The Manosphere and the Fundamentalism Pipeline
Dan Miller, religion scholar who studies Christian Nationalism and masculinity, breaks down how Adam-focused theology and manosphere rhetoric merge to reshape modern manhood. Short takes on imperial Christian roots, the manosphere’s emotional appeal, and how economic and social isolation feed a pipeline to fundamentalism. Ends with practical alternatives: care-based parenting, therapy, and public models of empathetic masculinity.
May 3, 2026 • 1h 9min
The Sunday Interview: Governing Without Accountability: Silicon Valley’s Ideology with Adrian Daub
Adrian Daub, Stanford professor of German studies and author probing tech culture. He traces the hippie-to-tech lineage and the radicalization of a billionaire class. He discusses AI framed as inevitable to dodge regulation and the cultlike aesthetics and authoritarian impulses among tech elites. He connects personal grievance, spectacle, and power that disavows itself.
18 snips
May 1, 2026 • 50min
Weekly Roundup: The Death of Voting Rights: SCOTUS, Alito, and the Colorblind Myth
A deep dive into efforts to enshrine Christian nationalism into federal policy and how a new task force reframes anti-discrimination as religious attack. A look at a Supreme Court ruling that further weakens voting protections and the rise of colorblind rhetoric undermining race-conscious remedies. Discussion of selective free speech claims, weaponized federal power, harsh border policies, and GOP political vulnerabilities heading into 2026.
13 snips
Apr 29, 2026 • 33min
It's in the Code ep 189: “Jesus Isn’t An Alpha”
A deep take on how claims of Christian masculinity can be emptied of actual New Testament content. Close reading of Josh Hawley’s masculinity blueprint and its reliance on selective Bible reading. Examples where secular figures and tribal alpha traits replace Jesus. Exploration of how an undefined God gets used to sanctify power and exclusion.
Apr 27, 2026 • 28min
Hegseth Repeals Vax Mandate: The Anti-Vax Playbook Comes to the Pentagon
Dr. Kira Ganga Keefer, a religion scholar and author of Unvaccinated Under God, maps the religious and cultural roots of vaccine resistance. She traces how mandates became the flashpoint for coalitions linking evangelical nationalism, wellness spirituality, and anti-mandate politics. They explore movement-building, legal strategies, and the symbolic power of Hegseth’s repeal.
Apr 27, 2026 • 48min
The Sunday Interview: Weathering the Backlash: Navigating The Anti-DEI Wave with Dr. Tiffany Townsend
Dr. Tiffany Townsend, psychologist and former Chief Diversity Officer now leading CORE Perspectives, discusses the rise and rollback of DEI. She traces backlash to historical patterns, reframes inclusion as expanding the table, and describes tokenism, pervasive stereotypes, and the psychological toll. She argues for collective solidarity, strategic persistence, and community-based resilience.
