A confluence of powerful figureheads and institutions come together in the story of the religious far right’s rise, bookended by the popularity of televangelist Jerry Falwell Sr. in the ‘70s and, in our own time, his son Jerry Falwell Jr. Founded by Jerry senior, Liberty University joined Baptist church and austerity state, drawing in young conservatives, preparing the next generation of the Republican Party, and supporting various party initiatives. In his new book “The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory,” Tim Alberta describes it as a “fortress of evangelical culture [war],” providing Falwell with a platform as he attacked Jimmy Carter for a Playboy interview in a successful bid to rally the “moral majority.”
Decades down the line, a new generation, inspired by (and in the case of Jerry Falwell Jr., literally related to) the old, is carrying on their cultural and religious crusade against progressivism, the welfare state, multiculturalism — you name it. How has Trump drawn support from this base, and can he do it again this election cycle? Listen to this week’s episode to find out. You can also find this podcast on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more.
Episode 155: Tim Alberta