Straight White American Jesus The Sunday Interview: Strange People on the Hill: When White Nationalists Buy a Castle
Sep 20, 2026
Michael Edison Hayden is a journalist, author, and podcaster who covers white nationalism and disinformation. He discusses VDARE’s purchase of a West Virginia castle, the rise of the “great replacement” narrative, and how a small town became politically fractured. He also explores the personal toll of extremism reporting, threats against journalists, MAGA’s cultural dominance, and VDARE’s uncertain future.
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Why The Town Became The Book’s Protagonist
- Hayden centers Berkeley Springs rather than giving the Brimelows another platform for their rhetoric.
- The town’s businesses, residents, and relationships reveal how extremist politics reshapes ordinary civic life.
The Message That Sent Hayden To Berkeley Springs
- A Berkeley Springs resident contacted Hayden’s former SPLC team after VDARE bought the town’s prominent castle.
- With senior leadership absent, Hayden was told simply to go there, turning a short assignment into years of involvement.
Why The Castle Threatened Berkeley Springs’ Economy
- The castle dominated Berkeley Springs’ tourist identity and depended on visitors from liberal nearby cities.
- Brimelow assumed a heavily white, pro-Trump county would welcome VDARE, overlooking the town’s economic dependence on outsiders.
