S6:E41 The Council for National Policy

S6:E41 The Council for National Policy

by | Feb 24, 2026 | Economics and Faith, Episodes, Season 6 - Rise of the Religious Right

How Dark Money has Influenced Evangelicalism

Dark money is a problem in American politics and religion. What is it? Untraceable money that often comes from big donors, which is channelled through non-profits to hide the identity of the donor. This money is then able to back causes that may or may not be positive.

What is the Council for National Policy?

The Council for National Policy is an organization in the pipeline for Christian dark money. It finances groups such as the Heritage Foundation, Focus on the Family, pro-life organizations, Turning Point USA, and others. They also coordinate language around denial of climate change, COVID, and election results. Their first president was Tim LaHaye, but he is just the tip of the iceberg.

Shadow Network by Anne Nelson

Our guide through this story is Anne Nelson, author of Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right. It is an excellent resource that is critical for anyone interested in how some evangelicals tied themselves to the Republican Party.

Sources:

  • ⁠Biographical video⁠ from Turning Point USA about Foster Friess
  • Shadow Network by Anne Nelson
  • Christian Reconstruction: RJ Rushdoony and American Religious Conservatism by Michael McVicar
  • 100 Things to See in the Night Sky Expanded Edition. By Dean Regas
  • ⁠Christianity and Oil in US History⁠
  • ⁠Article⁠ on Nelson Bunker Hunt
  • Birchers by Matthew Dallek
  • ⁠The Road to Serfdom⁠ (comic version) adapted from Hayek
  • Reaganland and Before the Storm by Rick Perlstein
  • “Information Sheet, Council for National Policy,” May 1984
  • Dark Money by Jane Mayer
  • ⁠article⁠ on Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education
  • Ponzinomics by Robert Fitzpatrick
  • Justice Department ⁠article⁠ about Blackwater/ Prince
  • Adams, D. C., Robles, F., & Mazzetti, M. (2025). A Desperate Haiti Turns to Erik Prince, Trump Ally, In Fight Against Gangs. New York: New York Times Company.
  • Census ⁠data⁠ on Wyoming
  • Pat Robertson: A Life and Legacy by David Edwin Harrell Jr.
  • Leadership Institute ⁠website ⁠(accessed 8/8/25)
  • Email blast from National Religious Broadcasters titled: “NRB President & CEO to Advocate on Capitol Hill for AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act” released July 14, 2025
  • Salem Media ⁠website⁠
  • ⁠NRB Article⁠ about Bott Radio
  • PRwatch.org ⁠article and video⁠ about CNP
  • Jackson Hole News and Guide ⁠article⁠ about Donald Trump Jr.’s visit to Jackson in 2016
  • New York Times ⁠article⁠ on Foster Friess
  • ⁠Tax documents ⁠from Turning Point USA, courtesy of Pro Publica
  • 2017 Jane Mayer ⁠profile ⁠of Turning Point USA
  • ProPublica ⁠article⁠ on the Kochs
  • Time ⁠article ⁠on the Koch’s and i360
  • ⁠Article ⁠on how many people didn’t vote in 2024
  • New York Times ⁠article ⁠about Trump’s call to the Georgia election rep
  • The Guardian ⁠article ⁠about Kirk’s busing of people to the January 6, 2021, riot
  • EPA ⁠article ⁠about its origins

Discussion Questions:

  • What is dark money? Should Christians participate in it?
  • What are the functions of groups like the Council for National Policy?
  • Who was Foster Friess?
  • Why is it important to include a discussion of dark money when talking about things like Turning Point USA?
  • What is the connection between evangelicalism and oil?
S6:E41 Tim LaHaye’s Battle for the Mind

S6:E41 Tim LaHaye’s Battle for the Mind

by | Feb 10, 2026 | Episodes, Season 6 - Rise of the Religious Right

Tim LaHaye’s fight against secular humanism

Tim LaHaye wrote different kinds of books. Books on marriage, sexuality, the end times, and those involved in social and political movements. In his young years, Tim LaHaye taught for the John Birch Society. His conspiratorial view of the world carried over into his theology, evidenced by the Left Behind series, as well as the topic of the show today, The Battle for the Mind. Published in 1980, this little book takes a negative view of humanism. He defines humanism as, essentially, everything that has gone with society in the last 2,000 years. It’s a very broad, almost useless definition.

Tim LaHaye’s boogeyman

Humanism is actually a movement that started in Northern Italy around the 1200s, which tries to lift up the value of the human person. That takes a lot of different shapes, from secular or atheistic humanism to Christian humanism. In fact, as we argue in the episode, LaHaye’s view misses the positive ways that humanism has shaped the United States and evangelicalism.

My guest today is Dr. Darrell Bock. He is the author or editor of over 45 books, including commentaries on Luke and Acts. He is the Executive Director of Cultural Engagement and Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. He’s also a host of DTS’ podcast The Table.

Sources:

  • The Battle for the Mind by Tim LaHaye (1980)
  • Listen, America! by Jerry Falwell
  • The Oxford English Dictionary
  • ⁠Encyclopedia Britannica ⁠
  • Francis Schaeffer and the Shaping of Evangelical America by Barry Hankins

Discussion Questions:

  • Have you read anything by Tim LaHaye? What was it?
  • Are Christian books like this useful? Not useful? Why?
  • What is “humanism”? (it may be helpful to look it up outside the book)
  • Why is it important that LaHaye mischaracterized humanism?
  • What were LaHaye’s ideas about education?