Green: The NRB has lots of different kinds of members, but a subset of them are largely focused on conservative politics. Some conservative radio and television hosts have been spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and the vaccines—like Phil Valentine, the Nashville radio host who made fun of those who were getting vaccinated and later died from a coronavirus infection. Why does the conservative media ecosystem incentivize that kind of reaction to something like the COVID-19 vaccines?

Darling: I want to defend our members. The members are great. They are doing amazing things to spread the good news of the Gospel around the world.

We’re all tempted to let our politics shape our faith. But this is not happening in a vacuum. In the last several decades, institutions at every level have failed us, whether it’s the Church, the government, or even media. There are perverse incentives toward the extremes on the left and the right—to demonizing, to conspiracy, to all that. That’s how you build an audience. That’s how you gain a following. But I actually don’t think most people want that. A lot of evangelicals are not trafficking in this extreme stuff. They’re trying to go about their lives—taking the kids to school, going to church on Sunday, and helping their neighbors.