WTL Conversations [S3E14]: "The Political Temperature in America is Hot" -- My Roundtable Discussion with Joy Reid, EJ Dionne Jr., Russell Contreras, and Lilliana Mason
PLUS, New December-only offer: Buy a book, get a discounted or free paid newsletter subscription
Dear #WhiteTooLong readers:
How did it get to be December already? In today’s newsletter, I’m sharing video of my recent roundtable discussion at The Brookings Institution with with Joy Reid, EJ Dionne Jr., Russell Contreras, and Lilliana Mason.
As we’re entering gift-giving season, I have a new December-only offer: Buy a book, get a discounted or free paid newsletter subscription either for yourself or for a friend.
And one more quick update. I’m wrapping up the fall book tour with two great events:
An appearance at a conference on “The Religious Origins of White Supremacy: Johnson v. M’Intosh and the Doctrine of Christian Discovery” at Syracuse University (in person only); and
Two conversations on “Race, Justice, and American Democracy” with my friend Greg Garrett at the American Cathedral in Paris (online and in person).
Finally, I’ve update my 2024 speaking tour schedule here. If I’m traveling near you, I’ll hope to see you in person. And bookmark that page for updates throughout the year.
More details on each are below. As always, thanks for reading!
Robby
"The Political Temperature in America is Hot"--Excerpts from My Roundtable Discussion with Joy Reid, EJ Dionne Jr., Russell Contreras, and Lilliana Mason
At the recent release event for PRRI’s American Values Survey, I had the privilege of joining a roundtable discussion about the state of American culture and politics one year out from the 2024 presidential election. The distinguished panel included MSNBC’s Joy Reid, Axios’ Russell Contreras, Johns Hopkins University political scientist Lilliana Mason, and Brookings’s E.J. Dionne Jr.
Watch a two-minute roundup of our live event at the Brookings Institution below:
If you want to watch the full release event for PRRI’s 2023 American Values Survey, conducted in partnership with the Brookings Institution—which includes my 20-minute presentation of the key findings and the entire panel discussion—click on the video below.
Key Findings
Here are the key findings from the14th-annual PRRI American Values Survey:
Support for political violence has increased in the past two years. Today, 23% of Americans agree that because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country, up from 15% in 2021.
Fully one-third of Republicans (33%) believe that true American patriots may have to resort to violence to save the country, compared with 22% of independents and 13% of Democrats. Nearly as many (31%) white evangelicals agree.
Among those affirming white Christian nationalist views—the belief that America was designated by God to be a promised land for European Christians—support for political violence rises to nearly four in ten (39%).
Most Republicans prefer a presidential candidate who can preserve American culture (58%), while most Democrats and independents prefer a candidate who can manage the economy (57% and 53%, respectively).
Democrats are now significantly more likely than Republicans to say their support for a candidate hinges on the candidate’s position on abortion (50% vs. 38%).
And one of the most heartbreaking findings. Approximately three fourths of white evangelicals (74%) and (77%) Republicans (77%) favor installing deterrents such as walls, floating barriers in rivers, and razor wire to prevent immigrants from entering the country illegally, even if they endanger or kill some people. Only 33% of religiously unaffiliated Americans and 15% of Democrats agree.
Media Coverage
The surey has also garnered significan media attention, including prominent stories at NPR, TIME, and Newsweek. In TheWashington Post, Jennifer Rubin wrote that the report’s findings are a disturbing reminder that “the MAGA movement […] has radicalized millions of Americans,” and MSNBC’s Sarah Posner forecasted “a bumpy road ahead to the 2024 election.”
ICYMI, I’ve also done a number of media interviews in the wake of the survey release.
The New York Times. I spoke with Thomas Edsall at The New York Times as well as Ronald Brownstein at CNN about the election of Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) as Speaker of the House. I told Edsall that Johnson was the embodiment of “white Christian nationalism in a tailored suit” and that his “record and previous public statements indicate that he’s a near textbook example of white Christian nationalism — the belief that God intended America to be a new promised land for European Christians.”
NPR. I also spoke with Danielle Kurtzleben for NPR’s Morning Edition, where I warned that statements dehumanizing political opponents “are the bricks that pave the road to political violence.”
DECEMBER DISCOUNT OFFER:
Buy a Book, Get a Discounted or Complementary Paid Annual Subscription to My Newsletter
This gift-giving season, an exclusive offer for #WhiteTooLong readers—Buy The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy during the month of December and receive a discounted paid annual subscription to #WhiteTooLong (for you or gifted to a friend).
Here’s the deal.
SINGLE BOOK OFFER. If you purchase one copy of my new book, The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future, during the month of December, you will get 50% off a paid annual subscription (a $35 value) for yourself or a friend.
TWO+ BOOKS OFFER. If you purchase two or more copies of my book during the month of December, you’ll get 100% off an annual paid subscription (a $70 value) for yourself or a friend.
HOW IT WORKS: We’ll do this on the honor system. Just send me an email at robertpjones.substack@gmail.com confirming you’ve purchased the book (hardcover, audiobook, or ebook) on or before 12/31/2023, along with who should receive the discount (you or a friend) and I’ll send you a link to receive the discounted or complementary subscription.