The Rest Is Politics The Gun Lobby Responsible for Trump: Journey Through Time
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Aug 10, 2025 
Sarah Churchwell, a historian and co-host of Goalhanger’s Journey Through Time, joins to discuss the intriguing evolution of the National Rifle Association. They explore its shift from a sportsman’s organization to a powerful lobbying group resistant to gun regulation. Churchwell also highlights the influence of a convicted killer in gun politics and considers the NRA's grip on the U.S. presidency and Supreme Court. The conversation underscores the ongoing challenges of gun control amidst political paralysis and changing public perceptions.
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Second Amendment Reframed By Myth
- The NRA effectively erased the 'well-regulated militia' clause from public understanding of the Second Amendment.
- Sarah Churchwell says that reframing made gun regulation appear unconstitutional.
NRA Origins Were Pro-Regulation
- The NRA began as a gun safety, pro-regulation sportsmen's organization after the Civil War.
- Sarah Churchwell says it campaigned to improve marksmanship and make firearms safer.
The 1970s Turn That Changed The NRA
- A 1970s hostile takeover flipped the NRA from a sportsman's club into a militant, for-profit political group.
- Sarah Churchwell calls this internal battle the pivotal reversal in the NRA's history.