The Witchmobile

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Feb 26, 2025

Rick Emerson, author of *Unmask Alice*, dives into the eerie beginnings of America's satanic panic in the late 1970s. He discusses how the fallout from Watergate and political shifts set the stage for a moral revolution led by figures like Jerry Falwell. The discussion highlights the unsettling influence of Beatrice Sparks' editing of a teenager's diary on public perception and fears surrounding satanism. Emerson also explores the controversial legacy of comedian Mike Warnke, intertwining humor with dark fabrications.

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ANECDOTE

Nixon's Downfall

Nixon's presidency, initially marked by "law and order," ended in scandal with Watergate.
His dirty tricks during the 1972 landslide victory exposed deep paranoia and contempt for enemies.

INSIGHT

Crisis of Trust

Watergate and the Pentagon Papers fostered distrust in American leadership.
This paved the way for Jimmy Carter's 1976 victory, appealing to those seeking honesty.

ANECDOTE

Falwell's Rise

Jerry Falwell, a Baptist pastor, founded Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty University.
He opposed the Civil Rights Movement and criticized the ACLU.

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August 8, 1974—Richard Nixon resigns. The country watches as the law-and-order president falls under the weight of his own corruption, leaving behind a legacy of paranoia, scandal, and a crisis of trust in American institutions. But as one political era collapsed, another movement began to take shape.

In this episode, we track the shifting tides of the 1970s—from Watergate’s unraveling to the unlikely rise of Jimmy Carter, a Southern Baptist reformer who captured the White House and disrupted the evangelical vote. But not everyone in the church was ready to embrace Carter’s vision.

While the culture wars simmered, a new battle was brewing. Jerry Falwell and his allies were setting the stage for a moral revolution—one that would define the next era of American politics. And as they sharpened their message, they found inspiration in some unlikely places: a doomsday preacher from San Francisco, an infamous diary that would stoke America’s growing fears about Satanism, and a Christian comedian with a dark secret and an unforgettable mode of transportation.

Resources:

Rick Emerson, Unmask Alice
Nixon library
Jonestown Institute, SDSU

Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a production of Christianity Today

Hosted and written by Mike Cosper

Produced by Rebekah Sebastian, with production assistance by Dawn Adams

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Music by Dirt Poor Robins

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