The Myth of Religious Freedom w/ Reza Aslan and Peter Manseau

In the premiere episode of season five of Our Seven Neighbors: Religion and Resistance in America, host Reza Aslan joins historian and Smithsonian curator Peter Manseau for a sweeping conversation about the real history of religious freedom in the United States. Together, they dismantle the comforting myth that America was founded as a uniformly Christian nation devoted to liberty for all, revealing instead a far more contested and complicated story. From Puritan theocracy and the execution of Quakers to the struggles of Jews, Muslims, Native peoples, and enslaved Africans for recognition and belonging, the episode explores how pluralism in America was not gifted from above, but forged through centuries of conflict, resistance, and negotiation. Drawing on Manseau’s landmark work One Nation, Under Gods, the discussion reframes American religious history as a living, unfinished struggle over who counts, whose beliefs matter, and what freedom truly means in a diverse democracy. Aslan and Manseau examine the enduring power of myths like the “city on a hill,” the dangers of Christian nationalism, and the ongoing fight to widen the circle of belonging in American life. At a moment when religious diversity and democratic pluralism are once again under pressure, this episode offers a powerful reminder that the American experiment has always depended on people willing to challenge exclusion and insist that the story is bigger than any one faith, nation, or identity. Subscribe to O7N: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-7-neighbors-religion-and-resistance-in-america/id1511771313 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Onishi interviews Texas Monthly senior writer Robert Downen about his 12,000-word feature on Paul Pressler, a key architect of the Southern Baptist Convention’s conservative resurgence alongside Paige Patterson. Downen outlines how the takeover, framed around biblical inerrancy, gender hierarchy, abortion, and weakening church–state separation, helped align the SBC with the GOP and built a broader culture-war mindset, aided by sophisticated internal tactics such as tracking pastorates, spying on professors, and manipulating convention rules. He traces Pressler’s privileged Texas lineage and early political training through his grandfather’s Texas Regulars ties and shows how Pressler leveraged SBC power into national influence via the Council for National Policy and Republican politics. The conversation centers on longstanding allegations that Pressler abused young men and how institutional deference and fear of “liberal” attacks enabled silence, shaping SBC responses to the later denomination-wide sexual abuse crisis and ongoing membership decline. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Redistricting Mania and the Christian Nationalist Push for Minority Rule Brad Onishi and Dan Miller discuss the fallout from a recent Supreme Court decision they say further rolled back the Voting Rights Act, triggering aggressive redistricting across states like Louisiana, Florida, Indiana, Virginia, Texas, and Tennessee, including carving up Memphis’s Black-majority district. They highlight Christian nationalist rhetoric from figures such as Kevin Roberts, Indiana Lt. Gov. Brian Beckwith, and Rep. Andy Ogles, and critique Mike Johnson’s repeated “adults in the room” framing as coded defense of white Christian male authority. They trace continuity to Religious Right strategist Paul Weyrich’s explicit anti-democratic voting strategy and argue the Court’s anti-discrimination logic now enables open discrimination while accelerating polarization and democratic erosion. They note a sharp Jackson–Alito exchange over partisan timing, call for reforms like anti-gerrymandering measures and term limits, and cite hope in Mark Kelly’s legal challenge to the Pentagon. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special crossover episode, Dan Miller joins Dr. Laura Anderson on Sunday School Dropouts for an in-depth examination of the ideological forces shaping modern Christian masculinity. The conversation centers on the specific theological frameworks used to justify patriarchal hierarchies, including the elevation of Adam as a model for the masculine ideal over the figure of Jesus. By analyzing recent political literature on the subject, Dan and Laura pull back the curtain on how high control religious groups and secular manosphere influencers overlap. They explore the historical shift toward imperial power within the faith and why certain movements remain obsessed with a mythic, Roman vision of authority that prizes dominance over vulnerability. The discussion further probes the systemic roots of the male identity crisis, looking at how economic instability and social isolation are often exploited to fuel a pipeline toward fundamentalism. Instead of addressing the trauma and insecurity at the heart of these movements, many leaders rely on a rhetoric of blame and aggression. This episode challenges those narratives by seeking out alternative models of manhood rooted in community care and civic action. By focusing on collaborative parenting and the importance of modeling emotional honesty, the dialogue offers a path away from the rigid constraints of the fundamentalist pipeline and toward a more inclusive understanding of identity and strength. Sunday School Dropouts podcast: https://sundayschooldropoutspod.com/ Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Annika Brockschmidt sits down with Adrian Daub, Professor at Stanford University and author of the upcoming book What Tech Calls Governing. Daub provides a searing intellectual history of the vibe shift in Silicon Valley, dismantling the myth that the tech world has undergone a broad political transformation. Instead, Daub argues that we are witnessing the radicalization of a billionaire elite, a small class of men like Marc Andreessen, Elon Musk, and Peter Thiel, who have moved rightward not because of shifting data, but out of a reactionary backlash to post pandemic social pressures and the accountability of the MeToo and BLM movements. By examining the ideological bridge from 1960s counterculture to modern cyberculture, Daub reveals how the hippie to tech pipeline created a foundation for a brand of power that refuses to recognize itself as power, leading to a strange paradox where the world’s most influential men consistently frame themselves as persecuted outsiders. The conversation dives deep into the specific ideologies driving today’s tech giants, from René Girard’s mimetic theory to the biohacking and eugenics adjacent subcultures of the ultra wealthy. Daub offers a brilliant critique of the current AI hype cycle, arguing that framing Artificial Intelligence as an unstoppable force of nature is a deliberate political maneuver designed to bypass regulation and democratic oversight. Beyond the policy, they discuss the revealing and often bizarre aesthetics of the tech elite, such as the AI generated gladiator imagery favored by aging billionaires, which Daub links to a historical fascist obsession with the idealized male form and ego. Looking forward, the duo explores the Palantir problem and the structural flaws in Silicon Valley’s current political bets, while offering a preview of Daub’s next project, Project 1933: Fascism Then and Now, which contextualizes our current moment within the darker chapters of 20th century history. Adrian Daub: What Tech Calls Thinking https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374721237/whattechcallsthinking/ Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s solo roundup, Dan Miller deconstructs a series of aggressive maneuvers by the 47th administration designed to codify Christian nationalism into federal policy. The centerpiece is the newly released report from the Anti-Christian Bias Task Force, an entity Dan argues serves less as a shield for religious freedom and more as a sword against civil rights. By framing standard anti-discrimination protections as inherent attacks on the faith, the administration is effectively creating a legal "red meat" pipeline for its base. This ideological shift is mirrored in the judicial branch, where the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Calle effectively "guts" the remains of the Voting Rights Act. Dan traces the lineage of Justice Alito’s "colorblind" rhetoric back to the Roberts Court, highlighting how the judicial insistence on ignoring race is being weaponized to dismantle Black political representation and broader DEI initiatives. The episode further explores the chilling effect of "MAGA-style" free speech, highlighting the selective weaponization of federal agencies against cultural and political critics. From the FCC’s retaliatory pressure on ABC following a Jimmy Kimmel monologue to the surreal indictment of James Comey over a seashell photo, Miller illustrates a pattern of using law enforcement as a tool for personal grievance. On the border, the administration continues its push for a "White America" through restrictive new visa affirmations and a cynical rebranding of ICE to "NICE"—a move Dan describes as a superficial mask for an agency defined by family separations and systemic harm. However, the episode closes on a note of strategic optimism: as the 2026 midterm elections loom, the GOP’s fixation on cultural grievances over economic affordability suggests a political vulnerability that could shift the national tide. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite his promises, Josh Hawley’s vision of masculinity and masculine virtue is not “Christian” in any definable way. But while this may be surprising, given his Christian nationalist credentials, it actually serves the interests of his ideology not to be distinctly Christian? In what senses? What can be gained by ensuring that claims to “Christian masculinity” aren’t actually Christian? Join Dan for this week’s episode as he explains. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The repeal of the military’s flu vaccine mandate by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth might seem like a minor policy shift, but it opens a window into a much larger movement reshaping American politics, religion, and public health. In this episode, we unpack how vaccine hesitancy—once a fringe concern—has merged with evangelical Christian nationalism, “medical freedom” rhetoric, and the post-COVID backlash to government authority. What looks like a simple choice about a seasonal shot is, in reality, part of a decades-long effort to reframe public health as a matter of individual liberty, religious conviction, and resistance to institutional power. Joined by Dr. Kira Ganga Keefer, an expert on religion and vaccine hesitancy, we explore how this coalition formed, why “mandates” have become the central battleground, and how movements like MAHA and figures like RFK Jr. have accelerated these trends. The conversation also digs into the cultural and theological currents underneath it all—from wellness spirituality and distrust of biomedicine to performances of masculinity and competing ideas of bodily autonomy. The result is a revealing look at how a single Pentagon policy decision reflects a much broader transformation in American life. Unvaccinated Under God: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691224664/unvaccinated-under-god?srsltid=AfmBOorYs5jhjmrT_gLbENztNw8pi4t5zgyZ2hc-0BEimx6VccCHznqi Subscribe for $3.65:⁠ ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter:⁠ ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠⁠ Donate to SWAJ: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this compelling installment of the Sunday Interview, host Brad Onishi engages in a deep-dive conversation with Dr. Tiffany Townsend, a distinguished psychologist and former Chief Diversity Officer, to discuss her timely new book, Weathering the Storm: Navigating the Anti-Social Justice Wave. The episode traces the trajectory of American DEI efforts from the "radical hope" sparked by Barack Obama’s election to the current systemic dismantling of equity initiatives across the country. Dr. Townsend offers a masterclass in historical context, drawing striking parallels between modern anti-DEI legislation and the "Redemption Playbook" used to roll back civil rights gains following Reconstruction. By reframing DEI as an effort to expand the table rather than limit it, she provides a necessary correction to the weaponized narratives currently dominating the cultural landscape. Beyond the political analysis, the discussion delves into the psychological toll of navigating spaces where tokenism and stereotypes—which Dr. Townsend famously likens to inescapable "cigarette smoke in a bar"—persist. The conversation moves from the macro-level of institutional violence and intimidation to the micro-level of personal healing, emphasizing that collective solidarity is the only true antidote to depletion. Dr. Townsend concludes with a powerful definition of "Radical Hope": a grounded, strategic persistence that acknowledges the severity of the current storm while drawing strength from the community and history. This episode is an essential toolkit for anyone looking to move past "checking boxes" toward building genuinely inclusive spaces that can withstand the current political climate. Weathering the Backlash: https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9798889835097/Weathering-the-Storm Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Onishi and Dan Miller discuss the Trump DOJ’s indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center, alleging it defrauded donors by paying informants for access to extremist groups, with charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering; they note legal experts’ skepticism, SPLC’s past cooperation with law enforcement, and argue it reflects MAGA hostility and a Project 2025/Project Esther-style push to label opponents “domestic terrorists.” They then cover Virginia voters approving a redistricting measure projected to shift up to four House seats away from the GOP, now temporarily blocked by a judge, and argue Trump’s mid-decade redistricting push is backfiring as blue states respond. Finally, they analyze Palantir’s manifesto-like summary of Alex Karp’s The Technological Republic, criticizing its anti-pluralism, civilizational hierarchy, and alignment with Christian nationalist politics, and close with court actions overturning a federal gender-affirming-care funding ban and a protestor’s case. 00:00 Indicting the SPLC 01:54 Charges Explained 07:22 Why Conservatives Hate SPLC 14:32 Project 2025 Playbook 18:55 Will the Case Stick 25:18 Break and Reset 25:32 Virginia Redistricting Fight 29:57 Gerrymandering and Opposition 32:56 Talarico Fox News Clip 34:42 Comedy Detour Dating Advice 35:55 Virginia Redistricting Fallout 37:11 Hope Amid Gerrymandering 38:10 SPLC Claims Revisited 39:41 Fondue Clip Goes Viral 41:09 Racism Goes Mainstream 45:27 Palantir Tech Fascism 47:39 Religion Means Christianity 51:44 Civilizational Chauvinism 57:53 Anti Pluralism Manifesto 01:02:06 Hope And Sign Off Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices