

The Justice Briefing with Dr. Jemar Tisby
Dr. Jemar Tisby
The Justice Briefing is your weekly guide to understanding current events through a historically grounded, theologically rooted, justice-centered lens. Instead of framing the world through fear or culture-war panic, we draw from the spirit of justice—from the biblical prophets to the Civil Rights Movement. This isn't just commentary; it’s discipleship for truth and justice.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 9, 2026 • 55min
ICE Is What Happens When Americans Refuse to Learn from Black History
The podcast explores the tragic killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent, revealing how propaganda distorts her story. It delves into the historical roots of policing and the Black Panther Party's activism against systemic oppression. There’s a powerful critique of ICE as a paramilitary force rather than a protective agency. The discussion also connects domestic injustices to international imperialism, especially in the context of Venezuela, encouraging listeners to learn from diverse histories. Tisby emphasizes storytelling and allyship as crucial tools for justice.

Jan 4, 2026 • 35min
The Truth about the Emancipation Proclamation
On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, but it did not “free the slaves.”In truth, the Emancipation Proclamation was extremely limited, provisional, and conditional.That does not mean it was not important, meaningful, or didn't matter.Historical accuracy is important, and by the end of this episode you will be able to name precisely what the Emancipation Proclamation did and didn’t do as well as its connection to the Black Christian community.In this episode, I take you through the history of the:Compensated Emancipation Act (1862)Emancipation Proclamation (1863)13th Amendment (1865)Watch Night Service The White House is in all-out propaganda mode with its America 250 campaign. This Footnotes Substack won’t let them co-opt the truth. You can help. Become a paid subscriber today. JemarTisby.Substack.com

Dec 26, 2025 • 1h 33min
Cultural Artifacts w/ G. Tyler Burns, Pt. 2
In this insightful discussion, G. Tyler Burns, a pastor and cultural commentator, joins Dr. Jemar Tisby to explore impactful cultural artifacts from the past year. They examine Ryan Coogler's role in revitalizing cinema, the resurgence of the quarter-zip fashion trend, and the emotional depth of Olivia Dean's album, The Art of Loving. They also delve into gripping narratives from works like The Lincoln Lawyer and explore the nuanced faith themes in films such as Wake Up Dead Man. A must-listen for anyone wanting fresh cultural recommendations!

5 snips
Dec 14, 2025 • 1h 25min
Cultural Artifacts w/ Tyler Burns, Pt. 1
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.

Dec 5, 2025 • 1h
From the K K K to White Christian Nationalism
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

11 snips
Nov 21, 2025 • 44min
He's Got to Go
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.

Nov 14, 2025 • 38min
The Epstein Files and the Offensive Power of Truth-Telling
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

May 23, 2025 • 54min
What "Andor" Has to Say about U.S.
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

Apr 16, 2025 • 1h 7min
Becoming the Pastor's Wife: How Marriage Replaced as a Woman's Path to Ministry
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

Feb 18, 2025 • 57min
Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy with Katherine Stewart
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


