Countering White Christian Nationalism Part 3: The Preacher vs The Prophet
What happens when a Black church girl and a white Presbyterian populist meet in a primary?
In part three of our Countering White Christian Nationalist series, Joy and Robby tackle the tough case of the Texas Democratic primary, in which two popular progressive candidates: Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico, meet at the intersection of faith and politics, which Robby describes as a clash between “the preacher and the prophet.” It’s a fascinating discovery, also bringing in the latest horrors of the Epstein files and the lure of Christian Zionism.
If you’re in Texas, early voting has begun, and the primary date is Tuesday, March 3rd!
ABOUT JOY REID:
Joy-Ann Lomena Reid (AKA Joy Reid) is a best-selling American author, political journalist and TV host. She was a national correspondent for MSNBC and is best known for hosting the Emmy-nominated, NAACP Award-winning political commentary and analysis show, The ReidOut, from 2020 to 2025. Her previous anchoring credits include The Reid Report (2014–2015) and AM Joy (2016–2020).
ABOUT ROBERT P. (ROBBY) JONES:
Robert P. Jones is the president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and New York Times bestselling author. His newest book is Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation after the Christian Turn Against Democracy (09/08/2026). He is also the author of The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future; White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity, which won a 2021 American Book Award; and The End of White Christian America, which won the prestigious 2019 Grawemeyer Award in Religion.
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Problem with Talarico's message: when he defines America, he describes a place that has never existed. It is prophetic, perhaps, but more exact language matters.