MAGA-linked pastor Doug Wilson’s plan for a Christian theocracy

Pastor Doug Wilson believes women should not be allowed to vote and homosexuality should be a crime. He was also invited to speak at the Pentagon this year.

That controversial invitation from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth underscores Wilson's growing influence in the Republican Party. Wilson is a self-described Christian nationalist who leads Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho — part of a small network of churches with locations including Washington, D.C.

Wilson said he opened a D.C. church service because of the number of Christians who adhere to his church’s teachings within the Trump administration. One of the most prominent attendees is Hegseth.

NPR's Leila Fadel sat down with Doug Wilson at his main church in Moscow, Idaho, to hear more about why he wants the U.S. to become a Christian theocracy and what that would mean for women and non-Christians in the country.

This episode contains profanity and references sexual assault.

NPR's Newsmakers is where you'll find NPR's biggest interviews. We post new episodes as soon as they're available — any day of the week. Follow or subscribe on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you watch or listen to podcasts so you always get the latest episode as soon as possible. You can also find Newsmakers on the NPR app.

Newsmakers relies on supporters who value independent journalism and a free press. Join NPR+ today to support our work and get perks from the podcasts you trust. Go to plus.npr.org.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy