"The Claremont Institute: The Anti-Democracy Think Tank" w/Katherine Stewart

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] week we speak with investigative reporter Katherine Stewart, author of a new article The Claremont Institute: The Anti-Democracy Think Tank  from The New Republic delves into the transformation of the Claremont Institute from a traditionally conservative think tank to one that openly promotes anti-democratic and authoritarian ideologies. The institute has become a significant player in the rise of what's called the "New Right," which is increasingly contemptuous of democracy and leans towards extremism.The Claremont Institute has been involved in various conservative events and movements, including National Conservatism conferences and the "war on woke" led by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The institute has also been associated with key GOP figures like Josh Hawley, J.D. Vance, and Donald Trump.The article argues that the Claremont Institute has moved away from its original mission and is now providing an intellectual veneer to paranoid ideas that view principles of equality and justice as threats to Western civilization. It has also been deeply involved in efforts to reshape Florida's state universities and is likely to play a significant role if either Trump or DeSantis becomes president in 2024.The institute's shift towards extremism is seen as a moral collapse, as it now provides a platform for white nationalists and has been implicated in efforts to overturn the 2020 election.Guest Bio:Katherine Stewart is an investigative reporter and author who has covered religious liberty, politics, policy, and education for over a decade. Her latest book, THE POWER WORSHIPPERS: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism, is a rare look inside the machinery of the movement that brought Donald Trump to power. Stewart’s journalism appears in the New York Times op ed, NBC, the New Republic, and the New York Review of Books. Support Sarah Stankorb’s work and preorder Damned If She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, Releases September 15, 2026.  Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798889837091Website: https://www.sarahstankorb.com/Support the showKeep the conversation going.Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, suggest a future guest, or connect with us directly?Visit our website:faithfulpoliticspodcast.comBrowse our bookstore, featuring books from many of our guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstoreSupport the show and help us keep these conversations going:patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPoliticsSubscribe for behind-the-scenes content, reflections, and updates:faithfulpolitics.substack.comContact the hosts:Josh Burtram, Faithful Host: [email protected] Wright, Political Host: [email protected] Faithful Politics:Instagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast