Money, Lies, and God with Katherine Stewart

Dave interviews Katherine Stewart about her new book 'Money, Lies, and God,' which explores extremist movements in the United States, particularly focusing on the rise of anti-democratic sentiment and Christian nationalism. Katherine shares her background in reporting over the past 16 years and discusses how she began investigating these movements after a 'Good News Club' appeared at her daughter's school. She categorizes the key players in these movements into 'funders,' 'thinkers,' and 'foot soldiers' and discusses how their interactions threaten the foundations of American democracy. The interview also touches on the disinformation campaigns, the international dimension of these extremist networks, and the importance of engaging in local politics and voting to sustain democracy. 00:00 Introduction and Book Overview 00:19 Katherine's Background and Initial Interest 00:38 The Good News Club and Its Impact 02:57 Researching the Legal Advocacy Groups 04:03 The Larger Agenda and War on Public Education 04:59 Categorizing the Networks: Funders, Thinkers, and Foot Soldiers 07:45 Christian Nationalism and Its Political Machine 12:51 The Role of Spirit Warriors and Spiritual Warfare 16:56 Influence of Thinkers: Leo Strauss and Carl Schmitt 22:02 The Concept of a Red Caesar 31:24 Global Reactionary Movements and Religious Nationalism 37:38 The Role of Funders and Money in Politics 42:19 Pro-Democracy Initiatives and Individual Actions 46:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts