In the Media
Ruth is a frequently sought-out commentator on Christian nationalism, religion, and American democracy.
Writing
Ruth’s writing has been featured in The Guardian, Religion News Service, New York Daily News, The Conversation, and more.
Latest:
How Trump and Christian nationalism split Phoenix churches in two
Phoenix New Times
Jan. 6 and the right’s contingent support for democracy
Religion News Service
How a movement to resist Christian nationalism took on Project 2025
Religion News Service
Catholic Christian nationalism is having a moment
Religion News Service
When can religion help bridge our differences?
Greater Good Magazine
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Mike Johnson embodies evangelicals’ embattlement strategy. It may be backfiring.
Religion News ServiceChristian nationalists have provoked a pluralist resistance
Religion News Service
Anti-IRS fearmongering, ‘law and order’ and the GOP
New York Daily News
How the threat of ‘taxpayer-funded abortion’ is being used to mobilize conservative religious voters
The Conversation
How did Republican fearmongering about an IRS ‘shadow army’ go mainstream?
The Guardian
The backlash against rightwing evangelicals is reshaping American politics and faith
The Guardian
Georgia on My Mind: American Christianity between Mythology and Prophecy
Berkley Forum
Making Budgets Moral Again
The Immanent Frame
Political Myopia and Prophetic Vision
The Immanent Frame
Good Troublemakers
The Immanent Frame
Press
Ruth and her work have been in major outlets, including the New York Times, Washington Post, and Time.
Latest:
They Want to Stop Paying Taxes as a Protest. There Are Consequences.
New York Times
Progressive faith leaders found new power in protesting ICE. Can their movement survive success?
Religion News Service
His arrest went viral. Now Rev. Michael Woolf is preaching what he calls 'Sanctuary values.'
Religion News Service
The 20 Best Podcasts of 2025
The Atlantic
A new era of American political violence is upon us. How did we get here? How does it end?
Los Angeles Times
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Making of a Martyr
The Chronicle of Higher EducationDeath of Charlie Kirk lays bare deep US political divisions
ReutersCharlie Kirk Assassination Raises Fear of Surging Political Violence
New York TimesThe politics of fewer babies
NPRThe Pulpit Is on the Precipice of the Schoolhouse Steps, and People Are Fighting Back
The Progressive MagazineTo put pressure on Trump, Democrats turn to religion — and religious activists
Religion News ServicesTrump, Musk : le rejet radical de l’empathie au nom de l’anti-wokisme
Marianne'Load the muskets': An emergent Catholic right's hopes for the White House to the Vatican.
USA TodayJosh Hawley embraces Christian nationalism. What does it mean?
Kansas City Star
Ruth Braunstein: More organizations are recognizing the threat of Christian nationalism
Faith & Leadership
Christian nationalists have awoken a fierce Christian resistance movement: report
Raw Story
Why a Group of Christians Is Fighting the Growing Threat of Christian Nationalism
Time
In Branson, God and country serve as red, white and blue comfort food
Religion News Service
The Religious Right's Agenda is Center Stage Again -- And Its As Unpopular as Ever
Huffington Post
Opinion: The MAGA Formula Is Getting Darker and Darker
New York Times
Opinion: What Role Will Religion Play in the Midterm Primaries?
National Catholic Reporter
In Defining ‘America,’ Students Critique, Criticize, and Warn of What Is and Could Be
UConn Today
Opinion: How America's Youth Lost Its Religion in the 1990s
Religion News Service
Opinion: This religious season reminds us of faith’s liberating promise
Washington Post
Ahead of the Trend: Scholar: America is still reacting to the religious right, in more ways than one
Religion News Service
Public Speaking
Ruth has spoken at various events and is available for speaking engagements: contact her here to have her speak at your next event.
Latest:
Resistance Panel, 9th Biennial Conference
Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture, Indiana University
Death, Taxes & the American Dream: A Film Screening and Conversation with the Filmmaker and Author
SNF Agora Institute
What Do Taxes Mean to Americans and Democracy? Panel
2026 May Tax Meeting, American Bar Association
The Morality of Taxpaying in America
War Tax Resistance Online Gathering and Coordinating Committee Meeting
The Morality of American Taxpaying by Ruth Braunstein: 2026 Doll Lecture on Religion and Money
Center for Culture, Society and Religion, Princeton University
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Other past engagements include:
Interfaith Council of Southwestern CT
Social Science History Association
Fetzer Institute
Society for the Scientific Study of Religion
Johns Hopkins University
Georgetown University
American Immigration Council
Stamford Indivisible
Yale University
American Sociological Association
Podcasts & Radio
Ruth often appears on podcasts and radio programs covering politics, religion, and civic life, including NPR’s All Things Considered, Straight White American Jesus, and more.
Latest:
A Compelling Conversation About the Morality of Taxes (Especially Right Now)
Culture Study with Anne Helen Petersen
How Faith Shapes Democracy: Ruth Braunstein on Competing Moral Visions in America
Faithful Politics Podcast
My Tax Dollars with Ruth Braunstein
Moral Matters: Conversations with Sociologists on Altruism, Morality, and Social Solidarity
The Politics of Christian Nationalism: A Conversation with Ruth Braunstein
What Matters Most
Paying Taxes in the DOGE ERA: Moral Duty, Religious Experience, or Place of Protest?
Straight White American Jesus
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2 Phoenix churches featured in podcast about resurgence of Christian nationalism in U.S. politics
KJZZ PhoenixTax Morality with Ruth Braunstein
Tax ChatsOn The Morality of Taxpaying
WORT FmRuth Braunstein, "My Tax Dollars: The Morality of Taxpaying in America" (Princeton UP, 2025)
New Books NetworkEvangelicals Resisting Extremism with Ruth Braunstein
American Values CoalitionMini-Interview: Dr. Ruth Braunstein on Resisting Evangelical Extremism Straight White American Jesus Podcast
Evangelicals' Dangerous Amnesia
The Soul of the Nation with Jim Wallis
A Theory of Political Backlash
Sociology of Religion
The Nostalgic Myths that Drive MAGA Nation with Dr. Ruth Braunstein
Straight White American Jesus
Connecting Religion and Money in History & Today
Center for Theological Inquiry
Prophets and Patriots: Series on the Religious Left
Straight White American JesusFaith & Activism on the Political Divide
d'Archive on WHUS Radio, hosted by Graham Stinnett
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I study things you're not supposed to talk about at parties — and write about them at my Substack.