Straight White American Jesus MLK Day, Postliberalism, and the Assault on Civil Rights One Year Into Trump's 2nd Term
Jan 20, 2026
In this discussion, theologian David Congdon delves into the current civil rights landscape under Trump’s second term, highlighting the unprecedented threats to inalienable dignity. He explains postliberalism as a movement rejecting individual rights and democracy in favor of hierarchy. Congdon traces its roots to both Christian theology and modern tech culture, revealing how these ideologies converge in their opposition to civil rights. This thought-provoking conversation reveals a troubling shift in governance and civic life.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Civil Rights Face Federal Assault
- Brad Onishi argues civil rights are under unprecedented threat one year into Trump's second term.
- He frames civil rights as the promise of inalienable human dignity that is being actively attacked by current federal policy.
What Post-Liberalism Rejects
- Post-liberalism rejects liberal democracy and the individual as the political basis.
- It favors hierarchy, expanded state power, and moral order over individual rights and pluralism.
Diverse Forces United Against Liberalism
- Brad outlines a coalition of Protestant, Catholic, and technocratic movements converging against liberalism.
- These groups overlap in rejecting individual freedom and embracing hierarchy and authoritarian solutions.
