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The most fascinating figure from the God-Trump "Jericho March" was its emcee, Chrystal Christian radio host Eric Metaxas.
He started off hosting "Socrates in the City" pop philosophy discussions in NYC but his insatiable desire for fame took him to hosting Alex Jones. 1/x
He started off hosting "Socrates in the City" pop philosophy discussions in NYC but his insatiable desire for fame took him to hosting Alex Jones. 1/x
It's a terrible story but, sadly, it's one that is extremely typical of aspiring conservative media figures.
People who try to bring nuance and to mix it up with religion skeptics always get stymied.
People who try to bring nuance and to mix it up with religion skeptics always get stymied.
Because there is no center-right power in America, only far-right, this means that if you want to have a media career as a reasonable conservative, you must somehow win the NYT or WaPo lottery or labor in relative obscurity, regardless of your talent or achievements.
Additionally, until YouTube finally exploded in popularity, Fox News utterly controlled who became conservative commentators.
They banned me because I dared to try to create a TV show that wasn't dependent on them. Here's our sizzle reel FWIW: https://vimeo.com/131024130
They banned me because I dared to try to create a TV show that wasn't dependent on them. Here's our sizzle reel FWIW: https://vimeo.com/131024130
"The Flipside" wasn't the funniest show ever but it was an attempt to be lighthearted and conservative. Our syndicated show received no support from right wing elites. People kept saying that we needed to make it angrier. But my colleagues and I refused.
Eric Metaxas tried doing things my way for the longest time as well. It didn't work for him either. Even though he was a national best-selling author, Fox News wouldn't give him the time of day. So after Trump, he pivoted to the far right. And it worked, just like it always does.
There is so much hatred and rage among fundamentalist Christians at their fellow Americans that anyone who's willing to pander to it can instantly command an audience. It's not a network level audience but it's a loyal one.
After Trump became president, Metaxas decided to become reborn in the image of Don. Just like Limbaugh or Hannity, he was now willing to say and do outrageous things.
But he's one-upped them by adding that Trump is God's servant. It's been rocket fuel to his career.
But he's one-upped them by adding that Trump is God's servant. It's been rocket fuel to his career.
Metaxas's story is chronicled very well in this piece, I encourage you to read it.
Something has to be done about the invective toward insanity that pervades conservative media. Alas, only conservative elites can do it. https://religionnews.com/2020/12/03/metaxas-jesus-trump-stolen-election-christian-nationalism-rod-dreher-sidney-powell/
Something has to be done about the invective toward insanity that pervades conservative media. Alas, only conservative elites can do it. https://religionnews.com/2020/12/03/metaxas-jesus-trump-stolen-election-christian-nationalism-rod-dreher-sidney-powell/
There is one thing that other media outlets can do though that would help improve things: Stop inviting bomb throwers onto panel debate shows.
If saying or doing crazy things got you permanently blacklisted from MSNBCNNBCBSABC, this would be very positive for America.
If saying or doing crazy things got you permanently blacklisted from MSNBCNNBCBSABC, this would be very positive for America.
PS: I forgot to link to some of Metaxas's recent rhetoric outside of the rally. He's turning into Alex Jones with glasses.
Last month, he told Donald Trump he was "happy to die" pursuing the deranged conspiracy theories that Biden lost the 2020 election https://religionnews.com/2020/11/30/eric-metaxas-christian-radio-host-offers-to-lay-down-his-life-for-trump-election-triumph/
Last month, he told Donald Trump he was "happy to die" pursuing the deranged conspiracy theories that Biden lost the 2020 election https://religionnews.com/2020/11/30/eric-metaxas-christian-radio-host-offers-to-lay-down-his-life-for-trump-election-triumph/
And here is video of the incident referenced in the RNS article of Metaxas suckerpunching a man who was riding his bike. He was anti-Trump so Metaxas seems to have thought he deserved to be assaulted https://twitter.com/RightWingWatch/status/1299409697972387841?s=20
