Far-right influencers integrate extremist ideologies into conservative institutions

A growing movement of far-right influencers and religious figures is increasingly integrating white supremacist, antisemitic, and nationalist ideologies into conservative and Christian institutions.

Radio host Erick Erickson has warned that individuals such as Charles Haywood, founder of the Society for American Civic Renewal, are attempting to infiltrate conservative organizations and churches. Haywood’s ‘Foundationalist Manifesto’ advocates for a non-democratic state with unlimited power and strict social controls regarding gender and family roles. These efforts reportedly extend to institutions like the Claremont Institute.

Simultaneously, a group of internet-savvy pastors, sometimes referred to as ‘theobros,’ are using digital platforms to promote segregationist theology and patriarchy. Figures like Michael Spangler and Joel Webbon are noted for blending Jim Crow-era racial views with modern hypermasculinity to reach young men online. This movement often leverages the attention economy to monetize extremist views through new media ventures.