The Justice Briefing with Dr. Jemar Tisby

Rev. G. Tyler Burns, pastor and cultural commentator, reunites with Jemar Tisby to explore their favorite cultural artifacts of the year. They reflect on recent works and partnerships, sharing insights from the $7 million Lilly grant. Tyler praises the Hulu series 'Paradise' for its storytelling, while Jemar highlights powerful sermons by Jeremiah Wright and James Cone’s impactful memoir. Together, they navigate a diverse range of recommendations, including the gripping theology of HBO Max's 'Task' and the emotional documentary 'I Like Me' about John Candy.

After countless hours studying Klan documents, rituals, speeches, and theology—and comparing them with what we see today—I am prepared to make this claim clearly:There is a direct ideological line from the Ku Klux Klan to modern white Christian nationalism.This is not a clickbait claim. It is a historically grounded conclusion.Join Me for What Comes NextJoin me this Sunday, December 7 at 4 p.m. ET online for a live Vision Casting MeetingRegister now.Never Miss an Episode of The Justice Briefing podcast

The conversation tackles the urgent need for Trump's legal removal, highlighting the dangers of his threatening rhetoric that incites violence. Historical connections between such threats and America's lynching legacy are explored. Critics of Trump's behavior emphasize the erosion of presidential decorum and the complicity of the Republican party in enabling his actions. The focus extends beyond removal to ensuring accountability for abuses, drawing on lessons from Reconstruction. A new multimedia venture, Tisby Media, is introduced as a tool for advocacy and justice.

The truth is not valuable only when it produces political fallout. The truth matters because it is the truth.If nothing else, we owe the survivors honesty.Truth is liberation. Truth is light. Truth is how people wounded in the dark find their way back toward hope. The Justice BriefingToday, I’m officially announcing that the podcast is becoming The Justice BriefingWelcome to the first episode.The Justice Briefing brings you the most important issues of the day, and interprets them at the intersection of faith, history, joy, and justice.It’s designed as a constructive alternative to the far-right Christian media ecosystem, helping people interpret events through truth, not fear.If we are going to resist culture war chatter and podcasts that play on fear and distortion, then we need clarity not just commentary.We need a briefing for the brave. And that’s exactly what The Justice Briefing is.Take Action* Subscribe on iTunes* Leave a rating and review on iTunes* Share the trailerYour investment fuels the growth of The Justice Briefing. Become a free or paid subscriber today. JemarTisby.Substack.com 

What can a Star Wars series teach us about authoritarianism, resistance, and the state of democracy in America? In this episode of Footnotes, Jemar Tisby sits down with his friend and producer, Beau York, a man steeped in Star Wars lore. Together they explore how Andor—a show set in a galaxy far, far away—becomes an urgent mirror for our political present. They discuss the rise of empire, the courage of ordinary people, and the power of storytelling to stir the soul when facts fall flat. Whether you're a sci-fi fan, a student of history, or someone longing for hope in dark times, this episode is for you.***NOTE: This episode has spoilers.You can follow beau at instagram.com/incognitbeau and check out his new project at www.MidnightHTX.comCheck out Jemar's (spoiler free) Substack article: Why You Should Be Watching Andor Right Now

Dr. Beth Allison Barris the James Vardaman Professor of History at Baylor University. She earned her PhD in Medieval History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is the bestselling author of The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth.In this episode we talk about her latest book, Becoming the Pastor's Wife: How Marriage Replaced Ordination as a Woman's Path to Ministry.We discuss:The role of the pastor's wifeComplementarianism and how it bolsters gendered divisions in church leadershipThe "First Lady" in the Black church tradition and how it differs from white evangelical conceptions of the "pastor's wife"The aggressive sexism and patriarchy we're seeing in the political realm and how that connects to the churchOrder Dr. Barr's book HERE.Remember to leave a review of FootnotesSubscribe to my newsletter: JemarTisby.Substack.com

In this episode of Footnotes, I sit down with investigative journalist Katherine Stewart to discuss her latest book, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy. Katherine’s work, including her previous book The Power Worshipers, which inspired the documentary God & Country, exposes the hidden networks of money, power, and religious extremism shaping our political landscape. We dive into the key players behind the antidemocratic movement—funders, thinkers, sergeants, infantry, and power brokers—exploring why financial influence is central to their success. Katherine unpacks the pervasive lies fueling these movements, the complex web of organizations behind them, and the racial and religious dynamics at play. This is a conversation about the urgent threats to democracy—and the resistance rising to meet them. If you care about the future of American democracy, you’ll want to listen to this one from start to finish.Get the book: Money, Lies, and GodSupport Jemar's Work: JemarTisby.Substack.com 

In this episode, I take a closer look at Homestead, the post-apocalyptic drama from Angel Studios based on the novel Black Autumn. I explore its themes of faith, anti-government sentiment, and personal property rights, plus its connection to real-world trends like doomsday prepping and Christian nationalism. Join me as I unpack how this film reflects the intersection of faith, politics, and culture.Subscribe: JemarTisby.Substack.com  Spirit of Justice (All Ages Books): bookshop.org/shop/jemartisby Key Themes:Plot and Production Context: Homestead adapts Black Autumn to showcase survivalism, faith, and societal collapse.Anti-Government Narrative: The film critiques federal institutions, highlighting themes of tyranny and resource control.Religious Messaging: Heavy-handed Christian motifs like Noah’s Ark and miraculous conversions drive the story’s resolution.Real-World Parallels: Reflects trends in doomsday prepping and libertarian ideologies among the ultra-wealthy.Cultural Implications: Examines how media shapes public perceptions of faith, politics, and self-reliance.For further research:Silicon Valley Billionaires and Doomsday Bunkers - BloombergReligious Movies and Hollywood Trends - WSJHomestead Review - Culture Mix

On this episode I speak with Amanda Tyler, head of the BJC, a Baptist group that works for religious freedom for all, about her new book "How to End Christian Nationalism."We talk:Defining Christian nationalismHow to talk to your family member, neighbor, friend who is in the sunken place of Christian nationalismWhy women subscribe to this ideology when it is so anti-womenAnd more...Pick up the book at EndChristianNationalism.com and access a whole library of resources for use in your local context at ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.orgGive your kids the gift of knowing the stories that shaped us. Pre-order "I Am the Spirit of Justice" and "Stories of the Spirit of Justice"! Get more news and views at: JemarTisby.Substack.com 

Fuller Texas and the Pannell Center for Black Church Studies welcome author, speaker, and public historian, Dr. Jemar Tisby, author of The Color of Compromise, in celebrating the release of his most recent book The Spirit of Justice: Faith, Race, and Resistance. In this chat recorded live at Fuller Texas, Dr. Tisby will share the heart behind his new work which features bold stories of individuals who have gone before us and how their legacy continues to encourage us to pursue solidarity as the fight against injustices continues today. Following the presentation, Dr. Dwight Radcliff, Academic Dean of the Pannell Center for Black Church Studies at Fuller, will joined Dr. Tisby for an audience Q&A session.Our thanks to Fuller Texas and the Pannell Center for Black Church Studies at Fuller for sharing this conversation with the Footnotes audience.