Samuel Perry

Donald Trump Is Frightened Trump wants to appear eager to minimize out-of-control clashes between government militias and protesters. But he doesn’t want to stop the things causing those clashes in the first place.

I'm calling bullshit on the media narrative that Trump is "pivoting" and "deescalating" on his ICE raids. The threshold is this: As long as the military occupations and the treatment of US cities as enemy territory continue, there's no pivot. ICE out. 1/

(New piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2057...

"Every day, I wake up and see the news and I'm horrified. I think it is crazy that some people make it sound like it's acceptable, like the murder of civilians is acceptable." - Victor Wembanyama says about the killings in Minnesota

Via DonHarris4/X

The biggest risk in this moment is something sociologists call “symbolic compliance.”

That’s when an institution that is violating civil rights gives the public just enough symbolic victories that accountability efforts lose steam before there has been any meaningful change.

Someone today sent me some fake news that was also aligned with my views.

I rejected it, completely.

You can do this too.

Don't judge the validity of a statement solely by whether it aligns with your beliefs.

Good reminder to myself that if I ever perceive a difference between online Sam and offline Sam there’s a problem.

Howdy. And calling people "Partner."

Then phrases come to mind like "Not my first rodeo" or "All hat and no cattle."

And TBH, I don't know for sure that there's an offline human being side to William Wolfe. Never met him. He may be a monster 24/7. But I imagine it'd be impossible to walk around like online William Wolfe 24/7 without being divorced, alone, & beat up constantly, so I assume we see performance.

There are two William Wolfes. There's the offline human being that prolly tips servers, makes pancakes, holds doors for old ladies, and waves cars to go ahead at 4-way stops.

But the online William Wolfe is a persona. And engagement is always, always the wrong choice unless you like wasting time.

Bonus roundup: How are American evangelicals responding to the ICE shooting today? Get up to speed here. The majority of the evangelicals I cover were quiet today. We will try to stay up to speed with other evangelical commentary in our roundups next week. Here are some early eva…

I’m grateful for @johnfea1.bsky.social posting his Evangelical Roundup. It’s a survey of what prominent evangelicals post on Twitter following major events like the murder of Alex Pretti. It’s sobering to say the least, but also encouraging sometimes.
thewayofimprovement.blog/2026/01/24/b...

The Washington Post published a clear video of federal agents removing Alex Pretti's handgun moments before he was fatally shot. There's nothing in the video to suggest Pretti even reached for his weapon.

wapo.st/49Zqv1L

“You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they may be.”
—Admiral Jim Stockdale, on his mentality as a prisoner-of-war for 8 years in Vietnam

Yep

Sure.

An experimental finding sure to shock: white evangelicals are especially attuned to slights against Christians, but significantly less likely to view same actions as discriminatory when against a religious out-group. And this double-standard is unique to white evangelicals. doi.org/10.1111/jssr...

Putin pioneered this. No opposition is legitimate. Regular, decent, “ordinary” people cannot possibly be against us because only we represent “the real people.”

Tell-tale sign of authoritarianism.

In other words, being part of that tradition myself, I'm speaking the language & values of my community to call that community to account. Showing them how they fall short of their own standards. Just like MLK Jr., Frederick Douglass, and so many in the Black Church tradition have. My hope anyway.

Christianity isn't monolithic. If our collective goals are justice & peace in a society where pluralism truly exists, I think that means I help Christians understand how their own textual tradition & professed values can point them toward the right ends. Just like I would Muslims, seculars, etc.

Same. And exegetically it's key that the next word in the verse is "unbelievers" like it's a separate category. I think it implies that the "cowards" the author mentions first are likely "believing cowards" or at least cowards who profess to believe.

Consistent with other verses in Rev on enduring.

Church is canceled for many around the nation. So here's a quick Sunday devotional for my Christian brethren who claim to take the Bible at face value.

You know who won't be in Heaven? Turn to Revelation 21:8.

First on the list is religious cowards. God is apparently not a fan. Pray on that.

Should be headlines in every major newspaper. Trump administration is obviously lying.

Headline of the Wall Street Journal.

Never had less respect for Christians bothsidesing our national problems than I do now.

There is no comparison, either qualitatively or in proportionality, and to suggest otherwise is fantasy, cowardice, or both.

We can debate tactics. There is no debate on blame.

Media: do not lead with the false government framing of what happened

Truly growing up in such a literary culture made becoming a scholar the most natural thing in the world for me. Life as I saw it was already about reading a ton of books & talking about them. Just now with a goal to understand social context & ramification rather than to apply an author’s teaching.

Something I wish more folks knew about evangelical (eva) culture—at least as I've experienced it—is that evas actually LOVE books and reading. Eva publishing is huge business & eva men I know inhale books.

Sadly that avidity backfires when your inputs are propaganda; you just consume poison faster.

There are so many factors working against this, obviously (eg, an entire media system built to amplify disinformation, fear, & out-group hostility). Still think most partisans take their cues on how intensely to dislike their opponents from their leaders. We need courageous, responsible leadership.

I would argue our culture of extreme affective polarization is driven by elites who will continue to use hostile rhetoric & invite extremism until it loses. Defeating that requires grassroots mobilization & courage from religious & political leaders to denounce autocratic conflict entrepreneurs.

Today! A conversation on the state of political violence in the U.S., hosted by @prri.org and featuring speakers such as @profsamperry.bsky.social

Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...