In this episode of E Pluribus Unum, host Jacqueline Keeler explores the unprecedented civil war erupting within the American Right over the escalating conflict in Iran. While "Digital MAGA" heavyweights like Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson denounce the war as a betrayal of the non-interventionist "America First" platform, the Republican establishment has pivoted toward a "Holy War" narrative that frames the conflict in apocalyptic terms. This dichotomy is backed by the 2025 PRRI American Values Atlas, which reveals a seismic shift in the GOP base: 56% of Republicans now identify as Adherents or Sympathizers of Christian Nationalism. This ideological framework provides the moral scaffolding for a war that many in the base no longer view as a mere geopolitical struggle, but as a divinely mandated crusade to bring about "Armageddon."
The program explores disturbing reports from the front lines, where this apocalyptic messaging is being delivered directly to the troops. From the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has articulated a vision of the conflict that mirrors "Crusader" theology, while the U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has signaled support for the war as a spiritual necessity. We examine allegations from over 40 military units where commanders have reportedly told service members that their mission is a precursor to the Second Coming of Christ. As we face the horrifying civilian toll—including the U.S. strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' school—we pivot to the question of our own agency. From supporting the hundreds of service members now seeking conscientious objector status to demanding transparency from a leadership that has traded policy for prophecy, we discuss what listeners can do to challenge this "Holy War" mandate and protect the lives caught in its wake.
- KBOO