Revealing Extremist Roots & The Role Of Faith In Politics with Dan Partland
02/15/24 • 58 min
1 Listener
Dan Partland has amassed an impressive body of documentary film work including, American High, Intervention, American Style, American Race and Apple’s top selling doc of all time, #Unfit, which studies the dangerous psychology of Donald Trump. Along with Rob Reiner, Dan is now bringing us God + Country, opening in theaters this Friday. Dan joins us to talk about the film which chronicles the current wave of American right wing extremism that is jeopardizing our nation’s governing principles, our humanistic ideals and the Christian faith itself.
God + Country visits the pews and pulpits of our nation’s mega-churches from where we learn that right wing Christian extremists believe that America is fulfilling a Messianic prophecy and their God given mission is to see it through, by any means necessary. Dan tells us that this current wave of Christian extremism is rooted in racism and is determined to enshrine white Christians at the top of a cultural caste system.
Christian nationalism is the belief that America should be a government mandated Christian nation. GOD & COUNTRY explores how a base of Christians has radically stoked a movement which is erasing the line between Church and State. Dan shares that there are almost 200,000,000 Americans who identify as Christians and many of them now fear that their faith is being hijacked by an extreme right wing political movement.
Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Genius: MLK/X on Nat Geo/Hulu/Disney + and Expats on Prime.
Path Points of Interest:
Dan Partland has amassed an impressive body of documentary film work including, American High, Intervention, American Style, American Race and Apple’s top selling doc of all time, #Unfit, which studies the dangerous psychology of Donald Trump. Along with Rob Reiner, Dan is now bringing us God + Country, opening in theaters this Friday. Dan joins us to talk about the film which chronicles the current wave of American right wing extremism that is jeopardizing our nation’s governing principles, our humanistic ideals and the Christian faith itself.
God + Country visits the pews and pulpits of our nation’s mega-churches from where we learn that right wing Christian extremists believe that America is fulfilling a Messianic prophecy and their God given mission is to see it through, by any means necessary. Dan tells us that this current wave of Christian extremism is rooted in racism and is determined to enshrine white Christians at the top of a cultural caste system.
Christian nationalism is the belief that America should be a government mandated Christian nation. GOD & COUNTRY explores how a base of Christians has radically stoked a movement which is erasing the line between Church and State. Dan shares that there are almost 200,000,000 Americans who identify as Christians and many of them now fear that their faith is being hijacked by an extreme right wing political movement.
Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Genius: MLK/X on Nat Geo/Hulu/Disney + and Expats on Prime.
Path Points of Interest:
Previous Episode
Nixon vs. The Anti-War Movement & Life After Leaving Leave It To Beaver
1 RecommendationsIf you’ve ever wondered how Beaver’s pal Gilbert turned out, he’s doing real neat. Stephen Talbot moved on from Mayfield to become a broadcast journalist for PBS, making investigative, news-making documentary films for Frontline, Bill Moyers and American Experience. Steve joins us to discuss his boomer journey from the streets of mythical 50s suburbia to counter-culture activism, to groundbreaking documentary journalism.
First, Jeffrey Sitcov heads a foundation called Doors of Change. They are positively impacting the lives of homeless kids who find themselves on the streets due to abusive home lives and/or coming out to their families as LGBTQ. Early intervention leads to inspirational success stories for these kids. The organization’s annual Concert of Hope is coming to San Diego in July with headliners, KC and The Sunshine Band. 100% of the proceeds benefit the kids!
Next, Stephen Talbot tells us about his lates project, The Movement and The Madman which chronicles the significant impact of the anti-war movement on Nixon and Kissinger’s dangerous escalation towards increased aggression and even possibly nuclear engagement in Viet Nam. If you were protesting the war, you saved lives.
Stephen was very eager to enter the family business as a kid. His parents were entertainers. His Dad, Lyle Talbot was a film and TV actor who appeared as Ozzie Nelson’s bud, Joe Randolph as Steve was portraying The Beaver’s bestie, Gilbert Bates. But, as Steve went on to college and became increasingly interested in politics and campus activism, Beaver went into reruns and it wasn’t long before Steve’s rally speeches were interrupted by signs that read, “Gee, Beav. I don’t know.”
The blown cover did not deter Steve. He went to work as a reporter at San Francisco’s KQED and then traveled the globe, writing, producing and directing over 40 illuminating documentaries, including: Justice For Sale, The Long March of Newt Gingrich, 1968: The Year that Shaped a Generation, and Soundtracks: Music Without Borders. His next film will tell the story of Clifton Cafeteria’s run-in with true crime and gangsters in the 1930s.
We cap it off with a round of Leave It To Beaver Trivia.
Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Masters of the Air on Apple + and the We Are The World Doc, The Greatest Night In Pop, on Netflix!
Path Points of Interest:
Stephen Talbot
Sound Tracks: Music Without Borders (2010 and 2012)
The Long March of Newt Gingrich
1968: The Year that Shaped a Generation
Leave it to Beaver on IMDB
Article About Steve on Best Classic Bands
Jeffrey Sitcov
Doors of Change
Concert of Hope
Masters of the Air on Apple +
The Greatest Night in Pop on Netflix
Next Episode
Bob Cowsill & Raized Wrong: TikTok Teen Idols & Generations of Family Bands
Raized Wrong is two young brothers, Landon and Lyric Goldberg, and their father Donny. They are a newly minted but third generation family band. Donny, along with his dad and brother head up a Beach Boys tribute band called Surf’s Up. Having learned his trade well from his dad, Donny is passing it on to his sons, ages 12 and 13. Their tight vocal harmonies on classic hits have shot their TikTok following climbing quickly towards a million and Lyric and Landon are on a fast track to teen idol heights so we hooked them up with a man who’s been there, Bob Cowsill of The Cowsills.
Bob understands pop melodies and intricate harmonies and he is duly impressed with the tight sounds of this accomplished and talented family band. Together, they are talking about musical roots and inspirations, sibling harmonies, parents in the band, rehearsal and performance experiences and balancing childhood with show business. Plus, Lyric and Landon go to Teen Mag Nosy Question school with Bob who has answered his share of them.
You will remember when you first knew that Raized Wrong is on its way to musical history.
Path Points of Interest:
Raized Wrong Mama Facebook Group
Raized Wrong on The Cowsills Podcast
The Beach Boys - "Feel Flows" The Sunflower & Surfs Up Sessions 1969-1971
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