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Not Today, Fascists
A progressive secular case that church-state separation and populist economics are central to resisting authoritarian drift, written for readers who want sharper political arguments.
What It's About
Not Today, Fascists is a political argument by Jennifer Welch, a podcaster who writes from the perspective of a progressive atheist raised in a Bible Belt state. Its central claim is that the United States faces a double threat: a slide toward authoritarian politics and a growing push to fold religious institutions into government. Welch presents the book as a practical toolkit for people who want to argue about these issues and win elections, not only as a warning.
The style is conversational and direct, closer to a long, pointed monologue from a podcast host than to a dense academic study. Welch draws on her own experience of religious conservatism and on the rhetoric she sees from political and church leaders. Readers should expect a clear point of view, sharp language, and a strong preference for naming opponents rather than searching for common ground.
Reading it feels like sitting with someone who is angry and organized about the subject. The book is most rewarding for readers who already share its premises and want vocabulary and framing for everyday conversations. Those who want footnoted evidence or an argument aimed at skeptics may find the sourcing lighter than the title suggests.
Read this if you…
- want a sharp, partisan argument about religion and politics from a progressive secular voice
- are looking for messaging ideas for talking about church-state issues with friends, family, or voters
- enjoy podcast-style commentary and already follow current political debates closely
Skip it if you…
- want balanced treatment or an argument designed to persuade readers who disagree with the author
- are looking for rigorous, research-based analysis of how religion and politics interact
Key Ideas
- 1
Theocracy as a present-tense threat
Welch treats the merging of religious and political power as a current concern rather than a distant hypothetical. She links it to the wider worry about authoritarianism, arguing that the two trends reinforce each other and should be discussed together rather than as separate issues.
- 2
Religious messaging and economic inequality
A major thread concerns how certain strands of religious teaching, especially the prosperity gospel, can make economic hardship seem deserved. Welch argues that this framing helps politics that favors the wealthy, and that progressives need to contest it directly rather than avoid religious language altogether.
- 3
Church-state separation as a principle to defend
The author presents separation of church and state as a foundational American principle that is under active attack. The book is meant to help readers recognize the people and arguments working to weaken it, and to respond in terms that resonate beyond the choir.
- 4
The political weight of large churches
Welch examines the economic and political influence of large, organized religious institutions and how that influence reaches into government decisions. The discussion is written from a critic's standpoint, so readers should weigh it as a case to consider rather than a neutral survey.
- 5
A populist, decency-based message for the left
The closing argument is practical: Welch urges politicians on the left to build messaging around human decency, structural equality, and populist economics. The aim is to offer a platform that can win elections, rather than a list of grievances about the opposition.
Limitations
The book's tone is the main point of debate: it is openly partisan and written for readers who already agree, so it can read more like a rallying speech than an argument that changes minds. Because the description emphasizes facts and language, readers should check specific claims against primary sources rather than assuming every point meets academic standards. The book also rests heavily on one author's experience and a fast-moving political moment, so specific references may date quickly. Readers should not expect a deep history of church-state law or a systematic survey of religious voting patterns.
Questions Readers Ask
- Who is Not Today, Fascists written for?
- It is written for readers who already lean progressive and want to sharpen their arguments about religion, politics, and economics. The language is plain and the chapters are built around talking points, so it is accessible to general readers. It is less suited to people who are undecided and want to be convinced by evidence rather than by a strong point of view.
- Is the book still relevant?
- Its core concerns about church-state separation and the link between religion and economic politics are long-running, so the basic questions remain live. However, the specific references to current political figures and events will age quickly, so the framing may matter more over time than the particular examples.
- How does it compare to a more academic study of religion and politics?
- An academic study typically relies on survey data, historical archives, and peer-reviewed research, and it aims to be cautious about causal claims. This book is an opinion-driven guide written to equip a side in current debates. Readers who want a balanced map of the field should pair it with more scholarly work.
- Published
- 2026
- ISBN
- 9780369785756
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Category
- Science
Book details and cover from Google Books.
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