Thread by @ardenthistorian

Johnson is influenced by theocratic movements unfamiliar to most political analysts. I wrote for @RDispatches about Johnson’s theological beliefs, with @sarahposner and @julieingersoll providing the context that’s been missing in most of the coverage.
religiondispatches.org/mike-johnson-i…

I chronicled decades of bigoted statements by Johnson - @julieingersoll and @sarahposner kindly provided context to the ideological framework Johnson operates in and that guides his politics: dominion theology.
religiondispatches.org/mike-johnson-i…

@julieingersoll @sarahposner Hat tip to @MatthewBoedy who analysed Johnson’s ties to prominent NAR leaders meticulously for @bulwark and @kkdumez who explained why Johnson’s world view is so dangerous to @politico, both are cited in the piece as well. religiondispatches.org/mike-johnson-i…

@julieingersoll @sarahposner @MatthewBoedy @Bulwark @kkdumez @politico .@AndrewLSeidel provided his assessment of the same ideology, that is driving the Alliance Defending Freedom, THE major player on the Christian Right that wants to make Christian “dominion” a reality.
religiondispatches.org/mike-johnson-i…

@julieingersoll @sarahposner @MatthewBoedy @Bulwark @kkdumez @politico @AndrewLSeidel This context is vital for the public to understand the threat that American democracy faces through the ideology that drives the man now 2nd in the line of succession to the presidency. And a lot of media outlets are not equipped to recognise the theology behind it.

@julieingersoll @sarahposner @MatthewBoedy @Bulwark @kkdumez @politico @AndrewLSeidel Mike Johnson isn’t just a “social conservative” - he’s a theocrat. That he was the “compromise candidate” Republicans rallied behind, and got 220 votes of ALL present GOP representatives gives you a good indication of where the mainstream of this party stands right now.

@julieingersoll @sarahposner @MatthewBoedy @Bulwark @kkdumez @politico @AndrewLSeidel This isn’t a secret - all of the experts cited above have been warning about the dangers of this movement for years, but it was dismissed as fringe and therefore impactless. A devastatingly wrong assessment, in which most big media outlets have been complicit in.

@julieingersoll @sarahposner @MatthewBoedy @Bulwark @kkdumez @politico @AndrewLSeidel Both @julieingersoll and @sarahposner have tirelessly chronicled the influence of Christian Reconstructionism and dominion theology and shown how it has permeated the mainstream of the American Right - and the GOP. Read their articles, their books. And listen to their warnings.

@julieingersoll @sarahposner @MatthewBoedy @Bulwark @kkdumez @politico @AndrewLSeidel It’s shocking to see how many big media outlets have failed to adequately identify the threat Johnson and his allies pose - from the “faith & family” puff piece in the WaPo to a prominent German newspaper that described his work for the ADF as advocating “for religious freedom”

@julieingersoll @sarahposner @MatthewBoedy @Bulwark @kkdumez @politico @AndrewLSeidel Correction: the piece for @BulwarkOnline about Johnson’s NAR connections was by Matthew Taylor. Linked the wrong Matt writing about Christian nationalism, apologies (I blame the time difference). However, y’all should also read what @MatthewBoedy has written about CN!