Origin of the Culture Wars

In the podcast episode, John Ronson explores the origin of the culture wars that engulfed America in the 1980s and 1990s. He highlights the speech given by conservative commentator Pat Buchanan at the 1992 Republican Convention, where he declared a religious and cultural war for the soul of America. This marked a turning point as the left had already gained control over education, entertainment, and the media, resulting in the rise of conservative storytellers like Bob Larson. Larson, a Christian broadcaster, engaged in a culture war against death metal musicians, claiming their lyrics were promoting satanism and abuse. This clash between conservative values and liberal ideals set the stage for the satanic panic and the subsequent impact it had on innocent lives.