Why The 'Liberal Media' Went Easy On Reagan

Author Diane Winston joins Sam and Emma to discuss her book Righting the American Dream: How the Media Mainstreamed Reagan’s Evangelical Vision. She presents a provocative exploration of how the news media played a crucial role in fostering the Reagan Revolution and the ascent of the religious Right. Initially facing waning popularity, Ronald Reagan's fortunes changed in 1983 when he reframed his agenda as a spiritual undertaking, linking limited government and free-market principles to religious conviction. The media eagerly broadcasted this narrative, resonating strongly with white evangelicals who rallied behind Reagan. Winston identifies four pivotal events—the "evil empire" speech, the AIDS crisis, the Grenada invasion, and increasing poverty rates—that, through uncritical media adoption of Reagan's religious rhetoric, helped mainstream evangelical ideas about individual responsibility. This book offers a compelling perspective on how Reagan and the press shifted America to the right, setting the stage for a continuing social revolution.