French Friday: Can Democrats Close the "God Gap"?

All signs point to a big mid-term election for Democrats, but much will depend on their ability to win over religious voters. David French and Skye Jethani discuss the political "God gap," and why religious Americans of all types have moved toward the Republican Party since the 1980s. French reports on his recent trip to Texas, the Senate race between Paxton and Talarico, and why the state's most famous pro-Trump pastor is giving his church permission not to vote Republican. They discuss why Democrats, until recently, have struggled to use moral rhetoric. And why have pro-ICE, anti-empathy Christians on social media suddenly changed their tune?

 

0:00 - Theme Song

 

0:32 - Midterms

 

15:47 - Voting on Doctrine?

 

26:12 - Did Robert Jeffress Change His Mind?

 

41:23 - Democrats Talking Like Republicans

 

51:16 - Samuel Sey and Ice

 

1:10:22 - End Credit

 

The Return of Moralistic Democrats:

https://www.theatlantic.com/books/2026/10/midterm-elections-and-return-of-good-and-evil/689145/

 

David French on the God Gap:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/04/opinion/talarico-paxton-texas-senate-evangelicals.html

 

David French on Empathy and Immigration:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/29/opinion/toxic-empathy-immigration-ice.html

 

Hannah Miller King on Pregnant Women in ICE Detention Centers:

https://holypost.substack.com/p/ice-vs-the-unborn