Faithful Politics Faith, Resistance, and the Courage to Say No - Inside The Traitor’s Circle with Jonathan Freedland
In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Josh Burtram are joined by Jonathan Freedland, an award-winning journalist, longtime Guardian columnist, and bestselling author, to discuss his latest book, The Traitor’s Circle.
Freedland unpacks the true story of a small, elite group of German citizens who quietly resisted Adolf Hitler from within Nazi Germany - and the devastating betrayal that ultimately exposed them. Through the lens of faith, conscience, and moral authority, the conversation explores why some people resist tyranny while most comply, how fear and partial courage shape human decisions, and why belief in a higher authority - whether God, conscience, or moral tradition - can give people the strength to say no when it matters most.
The discussion draws powerful connections between history and the present without collapsing them into easy analogies, offering listeners a sobering and deeply human exploration of complicity, resistance, and the cost of moral clarity in dangerous times.
Guest Bio
Jonathan Freedland is a British journalist, author, and broadcaster. He is a longtime columnist for The Guardian, former Washington correspondent, and host of Politics Weekly America. Freedland is the author of several acclaimed books, including The Escape Artist, and his work often focuses on democracy, authoritarianism, antisemitism, and moral responsibility in modern history.
Book Discussed
The Traitor’s Circle: The True Story of a Secret Resistance Network in Nazi Germany and the Spy Who Betrayed Them by Jonathan Freedland https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780063373204
🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?
👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com
📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:
faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore
❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:
https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics
📩 Reach out to us:
- Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: Josh@faithfulpolitics.com
- Political Host, Will Wright: Will@faithfulpolitics.com
📱 Follow & connect with us:
- Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik
- Instagram: faithful_politics
- Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast
- LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics
📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:
faithfulpolitics.substack.com