The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper Season 4 Episode 5 The Rise of Christian Nationalism

« Previous Ep. CNN Anchor and Chief Investigative Correspondent Pamela Brown examines the growing influence of Christian nationalism, an ideology rooted in the belief that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and that its laws and institutions should reflect Christian values. Through immersive reporting and on-the-ground access, the episode explores how a movement once largely confined to the margins of white evangelical culture has gained new visibility and political power.

"My reporting for this hour began early last year when I visited Moscow, Idaho to interview Pastor Douglas Wilson. The response to that report was overwhelming and highlighted the need to better understand this movement working to redefine America as a Christian nation in the home, in a marriage, in schools and in government," said Brown. "We embedded with a community under Pastor Wilson's umbrella and spoke to women who have left the church and are now sounding the alarm. No matter where you live or what you believe, what we learned is especially consequential at this moment."

In "The Rise of Christian Nationalism," Brown travels to faith-centered communities where Christian nationalist ideas shape daily life, education, and governance. She sits down with prominent religious leaders who have helped build networks of churches and schools designed to instill a strict, literal interpretation of the Bible. She also speaks with women who are former church members, sharing accounts of religious trauma, rigid gender roles, and, in some cases, abuse within Christian nationalist communities.