Book Discussion: The Power Worshipers & Democracy in Chains (October 2025)
From Nonviolent Austin by Stacie Freasier, Robert Tyrone Lilly, Jim Crosby
November 7, 2025 · 60 min · Season 2 · Episode 5
About this episode
The episode discusses the implications of two significant books on political movements and their impact on American democracy.
Recap of Campaign Nonviolence action days (date of airing is the last day, also Gandhi’s birthday). Jim brought in two references for discussion: 'The Power Worshipers' by Katherine Stewart and 'Democracy In Chains: A Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America' by Nancy MacLean. These historical guides shed light on 'ALEC laws', American Legislative Exchange Council, and argue that there was a 70-year intentional movement, including privatization of schools, healthcare, etc, toward making Libertarian mainstream.
People in this episode
Host: Jim Crosby
Topics covered
- Campaign Nonviolence
- political history
- Libertarian movement
- education privatization
- healthcare privatization
Keywords
- Campaign Nonviolence
- The Power Worshipers
- Democracy In Chains
- ALEC laws
- Libertarian mainstream
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: American Legislative Exchange Council
Books & works: The Power Worshipers, Democracy In Chains: A Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America
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- Kingian Nonviolence Principle 2 · April 5, 2026 · 1h 4m
- Guest: Dr. Joyce James · February 7, 2026 · 59 min
- Guest: Gena St. David - Nonviolent Brain (January 2026) · January 4, 2026 · 1h 1m
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