First published 2026
Jennifer Welch brings her perspective as a progressive atheist from the Bible Belt to examine how religious extremism threatens American democracy. The host of the popular "I've Had It" podcast argues that the United States faces not just fascism but theocracy as far-right groups weaponize faith across denominations to consolidate power. Welch exposes how the evangelical prosperity gospel reinforces economic inequality and how "Big Church" wields dangerous influence over government. She traces the systematic attacks on church-state separation and details how the current administration's policies harm ordinary Americans. Beyond diagnosis, Welch offers a roadmap for progressive politicians to craft winning messages centered on human decency, structural equality, and populist economics. The book equips readers with concrete language and facts needed for crucial political discussions and electoral victories.
Genres: politics, religion, non-fiction, current-affairs, social-justice, activism
Vibes: accessible, critical, persuasive, polemical, thought-provoking, urgent
Tropes: call-to-action, expos, political-manifesto
Setting: United States, Bible Belt
Period: 21st-century, contemporary
288 pages · Hardcover · Hanover Square Press