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Straight White American Jesus

Weekly Roundup: Reparations for Traitors and the Slush Fund Presidency

Straight White American Jesus

Axis Mundi Media: Bradley Onishi + Daniel Miller

News, Politics

4.72K Ratings

🗓️ 22 May 2026

⏱️ 62 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Brad and Dan show up wired, sleep-deprived, and ready to go, breaking down a week where the absurd somehow outpaced the outrageous. They start with a surreal clip of Donald Trump reflecting on his son’s wedding before diving straight into the heart of the episode: a massive DOJ–IRS settlement that includes a $1.8 billion “slush fund” ostensibly for victims of government “weaponization.” The hosts trace how this fund is likely to benefit January 6 participants and allies, connecting it to the long-running “Big Lie” and what Brad calls real-time myth-making. Along the way, they unpack how narratives about January 6 have shifted from condemnation to celebration—and what it means when those narratives are backed by real money and political power. From there, the conversation widens to the broader ecosystem of Trumpism: primary victories that show Trump still holds sway, the endorsement of scandal-plagued figures like Ken Paxton, and the ongoing fusion of political loyalty with religious justification. The episode closes with a sharp critique of billionaire logic, as Jeff Bezos defends his tax record and “value to civilization,” prompting a deeper discussion about inequality, power, and what counts as public good. Even in the midst of it all, Brad and Dan find a few reasons for hope, pointing to court losses for the DOJ and small but meaningful acts of accountability—reminders that resistance, however incremental, is still possible. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

AXIS Mundi.

0:07.0

What's up everyone? Brad Onishi here with the one and only Rosa Oslon, and we've got something you do not want to miss.

0:21.1

That's right, Brad.

0:22.2

The brand new season of Our Seven Neighbors from the Interreligious Institute at Chicago Theological

0:27.4

Seminary is lives right now.

0:30.0

And this year, the United States marks its 250th anniversary.

0:34.9

We're stepping back to ask a big question.

0:38.1

What is the real story of religion in America?

0:41.5

This season, we're lifting up the deep history of spiritual diversity in the United States

0:45.5

and revisiting the founders' very different visions for the role of religion and public life.

0:50.2

The truth is, there's never been just one religious story in this country.

0:53.5

There have always been many.

0:54.2

Exactly. From the earliest days of the republic, debates about faith, freedom, pluralism,

0:59.7

and power shaped the nation. Some founders imagined a country with strong protections for religious

1:05.2

liberty. Others had narrower visions, and alongside them were native traditions, enslaved African spiritual practices,

1:12.5

immigrant faith communities, all shaping America in ways that often go untold.

1:18.6

Instead of repeating a tidy, mythic narrative, this season tells a braver, more accurate

1:22.5

story, one that honors the breathtaking diversity that's always been here.

1:26.8

If you care about how religion has shaped American democracy,

1:29.9

if you want to understand how spiritual communities have fueled movements for justice,

1:35.1

if you're ready for a fuller account of our shared history,

1:38.0

this season is for you.

...

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