Doug Wilson Plays Humble and Reasonable for the CNN Cameras

The real threat of Christian Dominionism hides behind closed doors.

If you follow the news at all, particularly religiously charged news, you’ve likely seen the clips circulating. CNN’s Pamela Brown interviewed Christian Dominionist Doug Wilson. In the clips, he talks about his kind of Christianity having global dominion, submissive women, his dicey history admiring “good” enslavers, and this gem:

“Women are the kind of people that people come out of.” — Doug Wilson

Wilson’s schtick hasn’t changed, and that’s evident in the CNN interview, where he behaves like a sort of gentle baffoon, a sort of endearing gramps who loves big families and wants nice things for America. He uses this aesthetic, along with his Calvinist doctrines, and humble brags about his “fiefdom” and “kirks” (a German to Scottish word for church; little word swaps like this are insider terms for those who belong. Members are “kirkers.” It suggests long-term validity and reinforces the feeling of invisible walls). He claims to be far-sighted (250 years until Christian Dominionism) and limited (this is his corner of the vineyard he’s working on). He’s used these same lines to downplay his intentions and impact for decades.

“Whew,” critics are supposed to breathe. “He’s weird but not really a threat to my job and freedoms.” But that’s bullshit. Wilson is very much a threat. He has access to the White House, Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Pentagon through his congregational and generational approach to Christian Dominionism, which begins with Nationalism: raising those who will go on to do the work he envisions. As Brown’s interview demonstrates, the Pentagon and Christ Church don’t have to be organizationally connected for Pete Hegseth to represent this worldview as the Secretary of Defense. Wilson can play pioneer all day long. In reality, he has his fingers in everything.

My DMs were full of notes from concerned readers sending me the link. I was tagged several times on Threads by readers who follow my work because Doug Wilson is someone I’ve been telling anyone who will listen about for years, warning them of his vision for America, as well as what it’s like to live within his vision for women. It’s a certain degree of fright to have lived it, left it, and watch it strengthen. Many survivors can relate.

For me, the most chilling moment in the CNN interview is when Kirkers Josh and Amy Prince were interviewed on the subject of dominance and submission in Wilson’s idea for family government. Josh’s eyes gleam with testosterone as he leans slightly forward and answers a question on equality. Amy slumps and stutters over her reply that she submits to him.

Of course, A Well-Trained Wife: My Memoir of Escape from Christian Patriarchy is my most visceral description of how dangerous this man is, and my largest log on the fire to burn his version of patriarchy down. I have hope reporters like Pamela Brown, as well as those in CNN’s target audience, will access the book and read it. AWTW is in the mainstream. It’s an NYT Bestseller, in Kindle Unlimited, Audible editor’s choice, Goodreads Readers Choice finalist, and yesterday, I learned it’s also one of the Top 99 Most Popular Memoirs on Goodreads for the past ten years, based on ratings. How much more in the mainstream can a story about church-sanctioned domestic violence get? Maybe the Disney deal will help. A Well-Trained Wife has what we call in the book world, “long legs.” I hope her fire burns long and slow.

What follows is a directory of other logs on this fire, both from other writers and my other Substack pieces on Wilson. It might be too long for email, but it’s in the app in full. I know I’m missing some due to time restraints, but I’ll add them as we go. If you have more favorite writers on this subject to share, please add them to the comments, especially if they’re survivor accounts. Wilson’s vineyard produces abusive environments and bruised fruit. Empowered reading, friends.

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Inside the Church that Preaches Wives Need to be Led By a Firm Hand

The Sons of Patriarchy Podcast (recording live from Moscow tonight, 8/8/25, btw)

Pete Hegseth's America

More Eyes—and Ears—Turn Toward Moscow, Idaho

Anna Wick’s note