Shows / Straight White American Jesus
Straight White American Jesus
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…
Episodes
Straight White American JesusPurity Culture and the Politics of White Innocence: Renee Good, Patriarchy, and Mar a Lago Face
In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad is joined by Sarah Moslener, author of After Purity: Race, Sex, and Religion in White Christian America…
Straight White American JesusWeekly Roundup: Minnesota vs. ICE: Neighbors, Authoritarianism, and the Future of Democracy
In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad Onishi—author of American Caesar: How Theocrats and Tech Lords Are Turning America into a Monarchy —is…
Straight White American JesusIt's in the Code ep 177: "Porn Again"
Like many right-wing commentators, Josh Hawley argues that men’s use of pornography represents one of the most significant and pervasive social ills plaguing…
Straight White American JesusRaised on the Prosperity Gospel: Fear, Shame, Poverty, and the Making of the Christian Right
Josiah Hesse grew up in northern Iowa during the farm crisis of the 1980s, a moment of economic collapse, rising poverty, and quiet desperation across the…
Straight White American JesusWeekly Roundup: The Sin of Empathy and the Theology of Terror From Minnesota to Davos
Straight White American Jesus digs into the Minnesota church protest that’s been framed as “anti-Christian”—and explains why that framing collapses on contact…
Straight White American JesusIt's in the Code ep 176: “A New Eden?”
Josh Hawley identifies six roles that men are called to play. The first is that of “husband.” But what, exactly does that mean? And what is the point or…
Straight White American JesusMLK Day, Postliberalism, and the Assault on Civil Rights One Year Into Trump's 2nd Term
MLK Day, Postliberalism, and the Assault on Civil Rights On Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026, Brad Onishi reflects on the legacy of civil rights in a moment…
Straight White American JesusWeekly Roundup: Wine Moms, ICE, and American Fascism
Brad and Dan examine the escalating ICE presence in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Renee Good, situating the operation within a broader pattern of…
Straight White American JesusIt's in the Code ep 175: “You Can’t Tell A Good Story Without Bad Guys”
Josh Hawley offers us a story about men, masculinity, and American society. But his patriarchal vision, with its appeals to Rome and medieval Christendom, is…
Straight White American JesusVenezuela, Greenland, Minnesota: The Monarchical Theory That Explains Everything
In this episode of Straight White American, Jesus, Brad Onishi kicks off 2026 by unpacking a new framework that helps make sense of the escalating cruelty…
Straight White American JesusWeekly Roundup: American Authoritarian Empire: From Minneapolis to Venezuela to Greenland
Brad returns from a two week break to examine three disturbing stories that reveal how authoritarian power is expanding in the United States and how empathy is…
Straight White American JesusSpecial Episode: The Killing of Renee Nicole Good by ICE w/ Angela Denker
In this special episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad Onishi is joined by the Reverend Angela Denker to discuss the killing of Renee Nicole Good by…
Straight White American JesusIt's in the Code ep 174: “From Adam to…King Arthur…?”
Josh Hawley wants us to believe that his vision of manhood and masculinity comes from the Bible, and specifically from its first book, Genesis. But does it? If…
Straight White American JesusThe Gospel of Deportation: Why Christian Nationalists Love ICE (Reign of Error Pilot Episode)
Subscribe to Reign of Error: https://redcircle.com/shows/fbed712f-0027-40af-a33b-fd9de05efc5c In this special episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad…
Straight White American JesusWeekly Roundup: MAGA’s 2026 Blueprint
Dan Miller examines how the Trump administration is beginning 2026 and what recent policy decisions reveal about its priorities. Dan breaks down the…
Straight White American JesusSWAJ Rewind: Stand for the Flag, Kneel for the Cross
Is the slogan, “stand for the flag, kneel for the cross” a harmless expression of the conviction that good Christians can also be good citizens? Or if we…
Straight White American JesusEx-Evangelical Apologetics: Are Leavers Broken and/or Just Giving Up? (SWAJ Rewind)
Brad revisits the idea that exvangelicals are just broke and giving up on faith. He responds to an interview at the Remnant Radio with Skillet's John Cooper…
Straight White American JesusSWAJ Rewind: The Colonized God: Reflections on Christian Nationalism and Jesus by Dr. Matthew Taylor
In this special episode, Brad introduces an audio essay by Matt Taylor titled 'The Colonized God.' Taylor, known for his work on the New Apostolic Reformation…
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SWAJ Rewind: "Who Owns Christmas?"
Who “owns” Christmas? When Christians tell non-Christians that they need to “remember the reason for the season,” or accuse them of engaging in a “war on…
Straight White American JesusA Year That Nearly Broke Us—and Why We Keep Going
In this end-of-year episode of Straight White American, Jesus, Brad Onishi steps away from headlines, interviews, and analysis to offer something closer to a…
Straight White American JesusWeekly Roundup: Cruelty as Policy, From Healthcare to Trans Panic
Dan Miller unpacks how Republican policy and ideology are converging around harm rather than governance. He begins with healthcare, breaking down how…
Straight White American JesusIt's in the Code ep 173: “They Just Hate Men”
Josh Hawley suggests that men are tasked with being “leaders.” But what does that mean for him? In what ways does he mix and match his terms to mask his real…
Straight White American JesusMyths of Violence: How Guns Became Sacred in America
Brad sits down with Dr. Rachel Wagner, Professor of Religious Studies at Ithaca College and author of Cowboy Apocalypse, for a sobering and necessary…
Straight White American JesusWeekly Roundup: A Battle of Fonts and Freedoms: Analyzing Trump's Authoritarianism and Growing Unpopularity
Brad and Dan return to unpack another week of chaos, contradictions, and creeping authoritarianism in American politics. They open with what seems like a small…
Straight White American JesusSpecial Episode: When We All Get to Heaven Ep 1
In this special episode of 'Straight White American Jesus,' the host introduces the podcast series 'When We All Get To Heaven,' which chronicles the history of…
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It's in the Code ep 172: “Projecting Enemies”
Josh Hawley argues that “man’s mission” is to combat evil. Defining men in this way makes evil necessary, and it transforms every political, social, and…
Straight White American JesusOlivia Nuzzi, Mormon Wives, and the Death of Democracy
Brad is joined by Alan Elrod, CEO and founder of the Pulaski Institute, for a wide-ranging conversation about what happens to democracy when entertainment…
Straight White American JesusWeekly Roundup: Cultural Crusades: From Hegseth's Boat Attacks to Oklahoma's Classrooms
Brad and Dan return with a packed Weekly Roundup that cuts through the noise of culture war headlines to get at what is really happening in American politics…
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It's in the Code ep 171: “A Man Like God”
Josh Hawley builds his account on masculinity and manhood on the idea that men are created in God’s image and, as such, are his representatives on earth. But…
Straight White American JesusNational Guard Shooting Reveals the Right's Dangerous Western Supremacy
Brad takes a hard look at the American right’s response to the recent shooting of two National Guardsmen in Washington, DC, and shows how the rhetoric around…
Straight White American JesusSWAJ Rewind: Give Thanks
This week Dan talks about the popular praise and worship song, “Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart.” What is the message of this song? Written as a song of…
Straight White American JesusWeekly Roundup: Kristi Noem Implicated, Erika Kirk’s Love Language, and Bill McKibben on the Tragedy of American Christianity
Brad and Dan are back from the American Academy of Religion conference in Boston and kick off this episode with some love for the folks they met there before…
Straight White American JesusPulitzer Winner on How the End of the Cold War Created MAGA Populism
Brad Onishi sits down with Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Starr to dig into his new book, American Contradiction, and the idea that the United States is less a…
Straight White American JesusShort Weekly Roundup: Donald Trump is the Anti-Christian President
In this episode of 'Straight White American, Jesus,' Brad Oishi discusses the Trump administration's paradoxical treatment of Christianity. Highlighting the…
Straight White American JesusIt's in the Code ep 170: “Order, Chaos, and Evil”
[CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains references to, and discussion of, death by suicide]. In this episode, Dan begins exploring what Josh Hawley calls “a…
Straight White American JesusICE is Detaining Holocaust Survivors
Brad takes listeners through two heartbreaking stories that reveal how religion, immigration policy, and selective notions of freedom collide in today’s…
Straight White American JesusWeekly Roundup: MAGAworld Splinters: Epstein Revelations, Civilizational Populism, and the Future of the GOP
MAGAworld Splinters: Epstein Revelations, Civilizational Populism, and the Future of the GOP In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, hosts Brad O’Ri…
Straight White American JesusAmerican Unexceptionalism: K-Pop Demon Hunters IRL Korea
Dan is off this week. So we are pleased to bring you a feature from our new limited series American Unexceptionalism: Global Lessons on Fighting Religious…
Straight White American JesusThe Librarian Who Fought Christian Nationalist Book Bans and Won
One of the things small town librarian Amanda Jones values most about books is how they can affirm a young person's sense of self. So in 2022, when she caught…
Straight White American JesusWeekly Roundup: Mamdani Wins and Dems Sweep - Blame the Women!
Brad and Dan unpack the historic election of Zohran Mamdani as Mayor of New York City and the predictable right-wing meltdown that followed, complete with…
Straight White American JesusIt's in the Code ep 169: “It’s the Same Story”
Josh Hawley argues that American “liberals” (anyone who isn’t a conservative Christian) don’t have a story to tell about men’s purpose in the world. But it…
Straight White American JesusThe Intellectual Forces Behind JD Vance + Vance Divorce Rumors
Brad Onishi is joined by Dr. Laura Field, author of Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right, for a fascinating look into the intellectual roots of the…
Straight White American JesusWeekly Roundup: We May Never Vote Again + JD Vance Runs for President
Dan’s “demon” costume sets the stage for a serious warning: Americans may not be able to vote freely in 2026. Brad argues that authoritarian tactics and…
Straight White American JesusIt's in the Code ep 168: “Man’s (Empty) Purpose”
Josh Hawley devotes the second chapter of his book to outlining what he sees as “man’s purpose.” He promises to answer the question of why men are here, and…
Straight White American JesusBeyond Thoughts and Prayers: The Rituals of Freedom
Brad welcomes Liz Theoharis and Charon Hribar, editors of We Pray Freedom: Liturgies and Rituals from The Freedom Church of the Poor. Both guests are key…
Straight White American JesusWeekly Roundup: “No Kings" vs Christ the King Who Condones Slavery + Trump Destroys the White House
Brad and Dan unpack the symbolism and substance behind the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to make way for a privately funded ballroom. They…
Straight White American JesusSpecial Episode: Is Pope Leo Really Dissolving Opus Dei?
This episode delves into the recent controversies surrounding Opus Dei, a secretive and influential organization within the Catholic Church. According to a…
Straight White American JesusIt's in the Code ep 167: "Manhood Pt. 2"
This episode continues the exploration of how masculinity and the category of "man" function within the contemporary right, using Senator Josh Hawley’s book…
Straight White American JesusPeter Thiel's Gospel Part II: Palantir and the Philosopher-King
Dr. Brad Onishi dives into the ideological roots of one of Peter Thiel's most significant ventures, Palantir. Drawing from Thiel’s reflections on Leo Strauss's…
Straight White American JesusResisting the Spiritual Violence of ICE
In this episode, Brad Onishi sits down with Rev. Alba Onofrio—executive director of Soulforce and host of Teología Sin Vergüenza—for a powerful exploration of…
Straight White American JesusWeekly Roundup: “I Love Hitler” Group Chat Leaked + The Technocrats Who Want Monarchy + No Kings!
Brad and Dan unpack a disturbing leaked group chat among young Republican leaders that reveals casual racism, homophobia, and even Nazi sympathies. They…
Straight White American JesusIt's in the Code ep 166: “Manhood”
Josh Hawley says that American manhood is threatened by “the left,” and that this threat lies in the fact that they are “anti-story.” What is missing, and what…
Straight White American JesusIntroducing American Unexceptionalism
What can we Americans learn from others around the world about how to protect democracy when the stakes are high? Can we as Americans learn about how to…
Straight White American JesusWeekly Roundup: Everyone Who Opposes Trump is Antifa + MAGA Christians Are Being Visited by Charlie Kirk
What happens when political language becomes so distorted that anyone opposing Donald Trump is branded as “lawless,” “Antifa,” or even an “insurrectionist”? In…
Straight White American JesusIntroducing Teología Sin Vergüenza: Queer. Feminist. Latinx. Decolonial Theology
Introducing a new show from Axis Mundi Media. Teología Sin Vergüenza: Navigating Faith, Activism, and Identity. Teología Sin Vergüenza is a digital platform…
Straight White American JesusIt's in the Code ep 165: “The Plight of Man”
Series: “Manhood” Title: “The Plight of Man” In this episode, Dan continues to examine what, precisely, Josh Hawley, thinks the problems are that confront…
Straight White American JesusBrad Unfiltered: The Gospel of Peter Thiel (Part I)
In this recording of a livestream from October 6, 2025, Dr. Brad Onishi delves into the complex religious worldview of Peter Thiel, exploring his beliefs about…
Straight White American JesusWeekly Roundup: Hegseth Declares War On the Military + Trump Declares War On You
Brad and Dan examine Pete Hegseth’s recent gathering of generals, critiquing his “warrior ethos” rhetoric and highlighting the dangers of his speech that…
Straight White American JesusIt's in the Code ep 164: “The Model Man”
Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord…
Straight White American JesusBrad Unfiltered: Troops in Portland: A Symbol of Authoritarianism
In this livestream from 9/29, Brad Onishi discusses the implications of sending troops to Portland, the gathering of military leaders, and the broader context…