Jeff Sharlet on the 'undertow' pulling America toward conflict

Reliable Sources

CNN

News

3.4 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 1 July 2022

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Author and Dartmouth professor Jeff Sharlet has been reporting on the American right from a religious studies perspective for two decades. He talks with Brian Stelter about his forthcoming book, "The Undertow: Scenes From a Slow Civil War," and the blind spots that some members of the media have. He says it is important to understand the religious "lens" that many Americans see the world through. "If you don't have that lens, you're only telling part of the story," he says. Plus, Sharlet talks about Christian nationalism; Donald Trump's relationship with the religious right; the impact of the January 6 hearings; and how the rural-urban divide is "getting much starker."

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Do reporters have a blind spot about religion or maybe several blind spots?
0:08.0	And how does that hinder news coverage of all sorts of topics?
0:12.0	Those are a couple of the questions for this week's reliable sources podcast.
0:16.0	So, let's cue the music.
0:20.0	I'm Brian Stelter, and this weekly podcast is our chance to go in depth with media leaders and newsmakers.
0:27.0	Exploring the story behind the story.
0:31.0	And my guest this week has so many fascinating insights to share.
0:36.0	His name is Jeff Charlotte. He's a professor at Dartmouth College and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair.
0:43.0	He spends much of his time on the road, interviewing folks across America about religion, politics, and culture, and so much more.
0:53.0	In his own words, quote, I've been reporting on US and global right wing movements for 20 years.
0:59.0	That, of course, includes many years thinking about Donald Trump and his influence on the Republican Party and on the United States.
1:07.0	He brings to all that a religious studies background.
1:11.0	And he's the author of numerous books, including The Family, Sea Street, and the forthcoming book The Undertoe.
1:19.0	You're about to hear the subtitle of The Undertoe, and that's in explain when it's all about.
1:23.0	But Vanity Fair just came out with an excerpt from the forthcoming book.
1:26.0	It's titled January 6 was the beginning of Ashley Babet as martyr in Trump's cult.
1:32.0	So, let's bring them in. Jeff Charlotte, welcome to the reliable sources podcast.
1:36.0	Hi, Brian. Good to be with you.
1:38.0	Thank you so much for being willing to talk about your work and your most recent article of Vanity Fair and all the rest as well.
1:44.0	This most recent piece, it comes from your forthcoming book The Undertoe.
1:48.0	Tell us about that book project, what you are trying to explore with it.
1:53.0	Well, the subtitle of the book is a scene from a slow civil war, which is, I'm not sure if I fear that's the reality or certain that it is.
	...

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