Dave interviews Katherine Stewart about her new book 'Money, Lies, and God,' which explores extremist movements in the United States, particularly focusing on the rise of anti-democratic sentiment and Christian nationalism. Katherine shares her background in reporting over the past 16 years and discusses how she began investigating these movements after a 'Good News Club' appeared at her daughter's school. She categorizes the key players in these movements into 'funders,' 'thinkers,' and 'foot soldiers' and discusses how their interactions threaten the foundations of American democracy. The interview also touches on the disinformation campaigns, the international dimension of these extremist networks, and the importance of engaging in local politics and voting to sustain democracy.
00:00 Introduction and Book Overview
00:19 Katherine's Background and Initial Interest
00:38 The Good News Club and Its Impact
02:57 Researching the Legal Advocacy Groups
04:03 The Larger Agenda and War on Public Education
04:59 Categorizing the Networks: Funders, Thinkers, and Foot Soldiers
07:45 Christian Nationalism and Its Political Machine
12:51 The Role of Spirit Warriors and Spiritual Warfare
16:56 Influence of Thinkers: Leo Strauss and Carl Schmitt
22:02 The Concept of a Red Caesar
31:24 Global Reactionary Movements and Religious Nationalism
37:38 The Role of Funders and Money in Politics
42:19 Pro-Democracy Initiatives and Individual Actions
46:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
