I've written for The North American Anglican on a couple of occasions as has at least one somewhat frequent guest on your own program. I'm proud to be associated with them and have proudly linked to them on my parish website and plan to write for them again as the opportunity presents itself.
Do I agree with every single thing that TNAA has ever published with no reservations? Obviously not -- I don't know of any publication that features more than a single author for whom that could be said (and very likely only for that author).
That being said, TNAA tends to run material from the classically Protestant side of Anglicanism. They've serialized Browne's classic Commentary on the Thirty-nine Articles, for instance.
Considering the American Reformer's thinly veiled ties to the alt-/dissident-/nazi- Right, their goal of colonizing denominations is troubling to say the least.
Not guilt by association, just pattern recognition. For example, Josh Abbotoy, managing director at American Reformer, previously worked at Kirkland & Ellis, the same firm that represented Jeffrey Epstein in 2008. These aren’t just random connections. They speak to the kind of network AR is drawing from and trying to normalize within evangelical spaces.
Thanks for proving my point. Kirkland & Ellis is the largest law firm in the world based on revenue. The fact you name one unsavory client and think it proves your point is, well, mind-numbingly inane. The fact two people "liked" such a comment shows us who the Deformed really are.
And SBC political commentary? Is this a parody account? Wasn't Russell Moore bad enough?
Really insightful piece, Brad. Your read on AR’s financial-ecclesial mashup hits the mark. One thing I’d suggest keeping an eye on is the influence of Peter Thiel and his network. Nate Fischer (New Founding, AR chair) is closely tied to Thiel’s orbit, which includes guys like JD Vance and David Sacks.
This isn’t just muddled Protestantism. It’s part of a larger political project that uses evangelical aesthetics to push a Zionist-friendly, elite-driven “national conservatism” that feels more tech-bureaucratic than reformational. When you look at AR’s affiliations with Palantir-adjacent actors and their sudden ecumenical embrace, it starts to look less like Protestant renewal and more like a managed coalition effort.
Appreciate your clarity and caution here. We need more of that in this space.
It's always the same with these Claremont Institute/Claremont McKenna people. They are not what they pretend to represent. Do a deep dive on what Harry Jaffa was about, his students formed these institutions to carry on his legacy.
Absolutely. The Claremont legacy is central here, especially the way Jaffa’s influence shaped a generation of political operatives who now market themselves as guardians of Western tradition. But what they’re offering isn’t rooted in serious theology or local church reform. It’s an elite-driven project wrapped in patriotic and Protestant language.
With people like Nate Fischer involved, and deep connections to Peter Thiel’s network, this has become less about conviction and more about managing a certain type of political energy. The endgame looks more like strategic positioning for influence than genuine reformation.
All of this seems like a nothing-burger. Just complaining about guys doing good work.
I've written for The North American Anglican on a couple of occasions as has at least one somewhat frequent guest on your own program. I'm proud to be associated with them and have proudly linked to them on my parish website and plan to write for them again as the opportunity presents itself.
Do I agree with every single thing that TNAA has ever published with no reservations? Obviously not -- I don't know of any publication that features more than a single author for whom that could be said (and very likely only for that author).
That being said, TNAA tends to run material from the classically Protestant side of Anglicanism. They've serialized Browne's classic Commentary on the Thirty-nine Articles, for instance.
This was a very disappointing post.
Considering the American Reformer's thinly veiled ties to the alt-/dissident-/nazi- Right, their goal of colonizing denominations is troubling to say the least.
Little Daniel playing the guilt-by-association game.
Not guilt by association, just pattern recognition. For example, Josh Abbotoy, managing director at American Reformer, previously worked at Kirkland & Ellis, the same firm that represented Jeffrey Epstein in 2008. These aren’t just random connections. They speak to the kind of network AR is drawing from and trying to normalize within evangelical spaces.
Thanks for proving my point. Kirkland & Ellis is the largest law firm in the world based on revenue. The fact you name one unsavory client and think it proves your point is, well, mind-numbingly inane. The fact two people "liked" such a comment shows us who the Deformed really are.
And SBC political commentary? Is this a parody account? Wasn't Russell Moore bad enough?
Really insightful piece, Brad. Your read on AR’s financial-ecclesial mashup hits the mark. One thing I’d suggest keeping an eye on is the influence of Peter Thiel and his network. Nate Fischer (New Founding, AR chair) is closely tied to Thiel’s orbit, which includes guys like JD Vance and David Sacks.
This isn’t just muddled Protestantism. It’s part of a larger political project that uses evangelical aesthetics to push a Zionist-friendly, elite-driven “national conservatism” that feels more tech-bureaucratic than reformational. When you look at AR’s affiliations with Palantir-adjacent actors and their sudden ecumenical embrace, it starts to look less like Protestant renewal and more like a managed coalition effort.
Appreciate your clarity and caution here. We need more of that in this space.
It's always the same with these Claremont Institute/Claremont McKenna people. They are not what they pretend to represent. Do a deep dive on what Harry Jaffa was about, his students formed these institutions to carry on his legacy.
Absolutely. The Claremont legacy is central here, especially the way Jaffa’s influence shaped a generation of political operatives who now market themselves as guardians of Western tradition. But what they’re offering isn’t rooted in serious theology or local church reform. It’s an elite-driven project wrapped in patriotic and Protestant language.
With people like Nate Fischer involved, and deep connections to Peter Thiel’s network, this has become less about conviction and more about managing a certain type of political energy. The endgame looks more like strategic positioning for influence than genuine reformation.
So, when GPTS added the Senior Founding Editor of AR to their faculty they really made a statement.
You’re getting closer, now look at the largest donor on their board.
This Baptist agrees with you on American Reformer and the Center for Baptist Leadership.
Neither of us need them.