The Christian nationalism takeover of Congress

Representative Jared Huffman of California has published No Prophets, a new bestseller in which he raises alarm about the influence of Christian nationalism on American political life. In the book, Huffman argues that the movement is not merely a fringe ideology but a substantive threat to democratic norms and institutions. Huffman, a Democratic member of the House, frames Christian nationalism as having advanced inside Congress to the point of creating what he calls a "shadow theocracy." He attributes this shift in part to the current House leadership, alleging that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) presides over a chamber where religiously driven power structures exert significant influence. The book’s thesis centers on the idea that this infusion of religiously motivated authority into legislative processes can undermine secular governance and democratic accountability. By using the term "shadow theocracy," Huffman signals that the influence he describes operates alongside or beneath formal constitutional structures, shaping decisions and priorities in ways he views as dangerous for democratic practice. As a bestseller, No Prophets is likely to sharpen public and political conversations about the role of religion in government and the extent to which elected institutions must safeguard the separation between church and state. Huffman’s claims add to an ongoing debate over how faith-based political movements intersect with lawmaking and institutional norms in Washington.