Religion: ‘Our Town’ And A Christian Nationalist Takeover In Tennessee
Summary
This episode examines Bloomberg’s investigative series "Our Town," which details how far-right Christian nationalists, backed by venture capital, attempted to transform Gainsborough, Tennessee, into a white Christian enclave. Host Jen White interviews reporters Mira Knight and Susan Burfield, along with local resident Nancy Pruitt, about the community’s pushback against these developers. Experts Katherine Stewart and Brad Onishi contextualize this effort as part of a broader, well-funded movement seeking to reshape American democracy through local control and demographic shifts.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Far-right developers in rural Tennessee
Guests introduce the 'Our Town' podcast and story context
Gainsborough's history and local women-led revitalization
Ridge Runner, New Founding, and massive land acquisitions
The concept of an 'aligned community' and local miscalculation
Interview with resident Nancy Pruitt on local resistance
Moscow, Idaho blueprint and Silicon Valley tech funding
Analysis: Christian nationalism and tech oligarch alliances
Political connections and the 'civilizational battle' strategy
Comparison to Amish, civic engagement, and conclusion
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