The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Season 14 Episode 20 Randall Balmer

In The Daily Show with Jon Stewart season 14 episode 20, Jon Stewart welcomes author and professor Randall Balmer to the show. Balmer is a renowned expert on religion in America, and he sits down with Stewart to discuss the role of evangelical Christianity in American politics.

Stewart begins the segment by noting that the religious right has been a powerful force in American politics for decades. He plays a clip of a speech by Ronald Reagan from 1980, in which the former president speaks about his faith and the importance of traditional values.

Balmer notes that Reagan's speech marked a turning point in American politics, as it signaled the emergence of the religious right as a significant political force. He explains that this movement grew out of a backlash against the liberal culture of the 1960s and 70s, and that it was fueled by conservative religious leaders like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.

Stewart asks Balmer about the role that these leaders played in the rise of the religious right. Balmer explains that Falwell and Robertson were both adept at using media to spread their message, and that they were able to convince millions of Americans that traditional Christian values were under attack. He notes that this message resonated with many Americans, particularly in the wake of the Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion nationwide.

Stewart and Balmer also discuss the movement's impact on American politics. Balmer notes that the religious right has been incredibly successful at mobilizing voters and shaping public policy, particularly on issues like abortion and gay marriage. He explains that the movement has been able to do this by building powerful alliances with conservative politicians and by creating a vast network of Christian organizations.

Stewart and Balmer then turn their attention to the 2008 presidential election. Balmer points out that the religious right played a significant role in this election, particularly in the Republican primaries. He notes that many conservative Christians were initially skeptical of John McCain's candidacy, but that they eventually rallied around him after Sarah Palin was added to the ticket. Balmer explains that Palin's staunchly conservative views on social issues made her a favorite of the religious right.

The conversation then turns to the current state of the movement. Balmer notes that the religious right is facing a number of challenges, including a changing cultural landscape and shifting demographics. He explains that younger generations are much less likely to identify as evangelical Christians, which could pose a serious challenge to the movement's future.

Stewart closes the segment by thanking Balmer for his insightful analysis of the religious right. He notes that while the movement has certainly had a significant impact on American politics, it remains to be seen whether it will continue to wield the same amount of power in the years to come.