Friendly Atheist Podcast

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Matthew Boedy is the author of multiple books and has written for many major publications. He's a leader in faculty organizing as president of the Georgia conference of the American Association of University Professors. He's formerly a high school teacher and currently a professor of rhetoric at the University of North Georgia. His latest book, the one I spoke with him about, is called The Seven Mountains Mandate: Exposing the Dangerous Plan to Christianize America and Destroy Democracy.This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— The Duggars are back in the news for crimes involving children. (0:45)— Ché Ahn says God told him to run for governor. California says he can't be on the ballot. (13:03)— Christian Nationalist Mark Robinson finally admits those sex shop stories were true. (35:08)— Catholic priests say charging them with sexual abuse violates their religious freedom. (48:30)— Jehovah’s Witnesses issue "clarification" on blood transfusion ban after decades of suffering. (58:07)— A strategic lawsuit in Oklahoma could block public money from funding religious schools. (1:09:15)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Federal judge blocks Arkansas law forcing Ten Commandments displays in public schools. (0:37)— South Australia political party dumps Christian candidate over anti-gay, anti-feminist rants. (14:47)— Nebraska "prophet" says God needs him to have access to a private jet. (26:28)— Indiana judge says state's abortion ban violates religious freedom of those seeking abortions. (40:08)— A Utah lawmaker didn’t try to codify the Mormon "Word of Wisdom." He was just making a point. (51:30)— Extremist pastor plots comeback campaign in deep-red Oklahoma district. (1:06:55)— Alabama House passes bill forcing public schools to begin day with student-led prayer. (1:17:50)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— GOP congressman says Muslims "don’t belong in American society” while his party shrugs. (1:00)— The myth of evangelical persecution gets a new platform in the Washington Post. (15:31)— Georgia is finally on the verge of criminalizing sexual exploitation by clergy members. (40:58)— Rhode Island uncovers decades of clergy abuse—and a Church that still won’t fully cooperate. (50:55)— Texas backs down after accusing agency of religious discrimination in driver handbook. (1:02:35)— Despite 4,000+ errors, Texas won’t abandon its Bible-heavy "Bluebonnet" curriculum. (1:11:15)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Texas megachurch pastor John Hagee is selling Trump's Iran conflict as God's plan. (0:43)— Before you share that story about how troops were told the Iran War is for "Armageddon," hear this… (12:28)— Megachurch pastor forced to repent for recording consensual sex with his wife. (36:54)— A Nashville woman was prepped for sterilization surgery. Then the Catholic hospital blocked it. (58:02)— Texas Republicans passed a bill creating prayer time at school. 99% of districts rejected it. (1:07:35)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Christian Nationalism has captured the Republican Party. (2:28)— A Tennessee bill would force Bible lessons and prayer in public schools. (16:23)— Ten Commandments posters must go up in schools before Louisiana families can sue, says federal court. (30:18)— "Pro-life" Tennessee GOP pushes amendment to murder women who have abortions. (39:54)— Kansas House passes bill making clergy mandated reporters... but Confession loophole remains. (56:50)This episode is sponsored by the Pew Research Center: To learn more about their Religious Landscape Study and dive into the data, visit pewresearch.org/rls.This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Southern Baptists are whitewashing the bigoted legacy of Wiley Drake. (2:27)— Ex-pastor at Greg Laurie's megachurch: I'm too broke to fight all these sexual abuse lawsuits. (17:31)— The anti–Project Blitz: A new tactic to fight Christian Nationalism in public schools. (38:30)— GOP lawmaker asks God to cleanse government of non-believers at Christian Nationalist event. (45:29)— Trust in clergy members hits record low, Gallup finds. (54:42)— Oklahoma rejects proposed religious charter school. Supporters already plan to sue. (1:06:14) This episode is sponsored by the Pew Research Center: To learn more about their Religious Landscape Study and dive into the data, visit pewresearch.org/rls.This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— The "He Gets Us" campaign has a PR problem no Super Bowl ad can solve. (1:23)— Oklahoma finally scraps Bible-heavy, conspiracy-laced Social Studies standards. (22:24)— Trump's "Religious Liberty Commission" just got sued for its pro-Christian bias. (36:49)— Court rules against anti-trans Christian teacher who demanded right to misgender students. (47:23)— Judge refuses to toss The Satanic Temple's lawsuit, putting Boston's flag policy on trial. (57:29)— South Carolina's bill to force the Ten Commandments in school is doomed to fail. (1:07:31)This episode is sponsored by the Pew Research Center: To learn more about their Religious Landscape Study and dive into the data, visit pewresearch.org/rls.This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— The "Greater Than" campaign claims loving gay parents are the real threat to kids. (2:18)— Republicans are panicking because James Talarico wants people to act more like Jesus. (31:25)— New Hampshire Republicans want to change their constitution so it favors Christianity. (48:50)— The Texas Board of Education plans to force kids to read the Bible in public schools. (1:00:40)— Church/state groups file motion to help block proposed Christian charter school in Tennessee. (1:13:20)This episode is sponsored by the Pew Research Center: To learn more about their Religious Landscape Study and dive into the data, visit pewresearch.org/rls.This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— The scandal rocking Bethel Church and the world of charismatic Christians. (1:07)— Arizona GOP pushes bill to allow school board prayers, despite obvious constitutional violations. (18:54)— After Bible-thumping backfires, Maryland county won't open meetings with the Lord’s Prayer. (32:50)— In Oregon, a local official's "State of the County" address turned into a Christian revival. (40:16)— A pastor who rejects “established science” decided polio & measles vaccines should be optional. (50:15)— An Oklahoma lawmaker wants Creationism taught in science classes. His bill is doomed. (1:03:26)This episode is sponsored by the Pew Research Center: To learn more about their Religious Landscape Study and dive into the data, visit pewresearch.org/rls.This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— The anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church was a justified rebuke of the pastor's cruelty. (2:49)— Texas courthouse unveils illegal Ten Commandments monument, inviting legal challenge. (22:53)— A Catholic racist refused the Eucharist from an Indian woman, then bragged about it online. (38:15)— Greg Locke used a real shooting to sell a fake Christian persecution story about himself. (49:08)— A proposed Oklahoma mosque appeared to meet all the zoning requirements. Bigotry still won out. (1:14:16)This episode is sponsored by the Pew Research Center: To learn more about their Religious Landscape Study and dive into the data, visit pewresearch.org/rls.This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Court upholds $400,000 fine against lawyer who warned Catholic school about predator on staff. (1:15)— Scott Adams’ deathbed conversion to Christianity shouldn’t be taken seriously. (25:30)— Texas attorney general sues state for non-existent religious discrimination. (42:27)— Ohio’s "Success Sequence" bill turns poverty into a personal failure. (55:59)— Can students fail an assignment if they cite God? Not if Florida Republicans get their way. (1:08:13)This episode is sponsored by the Pew Research Center: To learn more about their Religious Landscape Study and dive into the data, visit pewresearch.org/rls.This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— A single Chick-fil-A store congratulated a gay couple, and conservatives lost their damn minds. (2:35)— People who visited Ark Encounter may have been exposed to measles. (18:55)— Christian Nationalists can't handle Zohran Mamdani's oath on a Qur’an. (29:07)— Judge says school must shield kindergartner from all things LGBTQ at Christian dad's demand. (37:40)— New Jersey finally stops Christians from blocking access to a public beach on Sunday mornings. (58:55)— Indiana Republicans are reviving a decades-old fight over a Ten Commandments monument. (1:15:07)This episode is sponsored by the Pew Research Center: To learn more about their Religious Landscape Study and dive into the data, visit pewresearch.org/rls. This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about the worst stories from the past year, with increasingly more wine. — January (1:14)— February (22:08) — March (32:34)— April (40:30) — May (50:31)— June (1:00:58) — July (1:11:57)— August (1:21:21) — September (1:29:36)— October (2:05:13)— November (2:25:49)— December (2:43:50) This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Univ. of Oklahoma punishes instructor for failing Christian student who didn't do the assignment. (0:55)— Pete Hegseth is waging a pointless and damaging war on military chaplains. (19:30)— Mayor criticized for preaching bigotry during secretly recorded speech to high school club. (45:30)— Texas city blocks Christian pastor's invocation after his open support for a Pride event. (1:18:40)— Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders turned a holiday email to state employees into a Christian sermon. (1:32:20)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Oklahoma's Supreme Court overturns Ryan Walters' Bible-heavy Social Studies standards. (0:41)— Former Christian college administrator indicted for lying to cops in sex abuse investigation. (18:06)— Rachel Laser’s USCIRF appointment brings church-state separation back to the table. (32:54) — America isn't in the midst of a religious revival—and the numbers prove it. (49:42)— Australian court awards abuse survivor $1.5 million—and exposes Jehovah's Witnesses' cover-up. (1:00:35)— Ohio Republicans advance bill that would flood schools with Ten Commandments posters. (1:17:56)— An Arizona Republican is trying to force Creationism back into science classes. (1:24:11)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— A Christian mom who tried to ban LGBTQ books just got arrested for kidnapping her own daughter. (0:20)— Will the Maine Supreme Court allow a mother to keep harming her daughter with religion? (20:10)— Ohio appellate court lets makeshift church challenge local fire codes on religious grounds. (46:31)— Four Christian pastors want their faith to override public safety concerns in a Colorado park. (1:05:05)— Taxpayer dollars, Christian lies: What Alabama’s voucher program really buys. (1:15:41)— Utah high school blasted for sermon-like video blaming "sin of laziness" for mental health struggles. (1:29:35)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— She turned in a Bible sermon instead of an essay and failed. Now conservatives say she’s the victim. (3:06)— A Minnesota church told kids to hug and forgive their abuser. Then he found more victims. (44:15)— Because of religion, a West Virginia judge just torched the state's best public health policy. (58:40)— Florida Attorney General declares war on adults-only holiday drag show. (1:06:18)— Religious leaders demand "immediate cancellation" of "Merry Gothmas" festival. (1:16:11)— Texas families file class action lawsuit to halt Ten Commandments display in every school district. (1:19:49)— UK Supreme Court strikes down N. Ireland's pro-Christian Religious Education curriculum. (1:23:29)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Marissa Franks Burt is a novelist, editor, teacher, and cohost of the At Home with the Lectionary and In the Church Library podcasts. She lives in Washington state with her husband, six children, and heaps of books. She has a masters in theological studies from Columbia International University.Her latest book, written with Kelsey Kramer McGinnis, is "The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families." (Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4pdy3ns)The premise of the book is that Christian parents want to raise godly children. But many popular biblical parenting methods cause more harm than good. The stories bear that out. The research bears that out. And this book exposes how the Christian parenting industry has sold families false promises for five decades, leaving a trail of religious trauma, damaged relationships, and lost faith in its wake.This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Hemant will be speaking in St. Louis this weekend for the Ethical Society of St. Louis. Events are free to the public. COME!— Supreme Court declines case involving loudspeaker prayers at high school football games. (1:45)— The Catholic League’s Epstein defense is even worse than you think. (21:45)— New Hampshire town pulls plug on open forum after Satanists hoist flag. (40:26)— How the Assemblies of God became a safe haven for sexual predators. (49:15)— Colorado’s “first public Christian school” isn't a mistake. It's a test case. (1:05:15)— Florida's proposed loyalty oath for educators would ban atheists from becoming teachers. (1:13:40)— U.S. Catholic bishops double down on anti-trans policies in new hospital rules. (1:18:00)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— A TikToker is exposing churches that refuse to help a hungry baby. (2:32)— Axios tried to shame Christian U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico—and ended up exposing itself. (24:30)— Texas sues school district for following the law and not posting the Ten Commandments. (54:17) — Anti-abortion conservatives in Australia tried to turn a mother’s tragedy into a political game. (1:05:09)— Texas’ third-largest school district just rejected Christian extremism on the board of trustees. (1:19:00)— Pumpkin Palooza panic: How a cross-carved gourd sparked a mini culture war. (1:28:30)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— JD Vance wants his Hindu wife to convert. It’s Christian Nationalism: Home Edition. (5:09)— How the American Humanist Association is empowering a new wave of atheist content creators. (30:36)— Florida Republicans are furious that Muslims are using a voucher program meant to boost Christianity. (52:30)— Texas Supreme Court says faith-based bigotry by judges doesn't violate ethics rules. (1:04:55)— Federal judge rules against defiant teacher who refused to remove crucifix from classroom. (1:18:20)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Donor pulls scholarships after University of Arkansas Fayetteville posts Ten Commandments. (1:05)— Christian HVAC tech fired after invoking the "Billy Graham Rule" sues employer. (11:08)— The leader of the Anglican Church of North America is mired in a sexual misconduct scandal. (28:45)— Indiana's Christian Nationalist Lt. Gov. says Zohran Mamdani wants to “force his values” on NYC. (44:19)— Colorado’s “first public Christian school” is a constitutional disaster waiting to happen. (58:19)— Christian Nationalist linked to Pete Hegseth defends slavery as "not inherently evil." (1:15:53)— The Republican war on science is rapidly becoming a public health emergency. (1:30:21)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Pastor publicly shames woman for donating “only” $1,235 to his church. (2:40)— How megachurches twist the Bible to defend billionaires and wealth inequality. (19:04)— Sen. John Barrasso targets American Atheists in bizarre smear of "No Kings" protests. (39:33)— Pastor who condemned book with gay characters charged with sexually assaulting child from church. (50:09)— Judge blocks taxpayer-funded Catholic statues from going up at police HQ in Quincy, MA. (57:48)— South Carolina bars atheist from serving as election worker unless he swears oath to God. (1:08:44)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free AND VIDEO version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Hemant will be speaking near Orlando, Florida this weekend!— A Christian pastor aimed an AR-15 at the congregation to "run out the unbelief." (1:57)— In victory for free speech, UK court overturns Qur'an-burning conviction. (16:31)— Ohio Republicans used a life-saving Narcan bill to promote more religious indoctrination. (42:38)— After settlement, Catholic priests in Washington can keep sex predators' confessions secret. (56:50)— Anti-LGBTQ Catholic schools lose bid to discriminate in Colorado's universal preschool program. (1:13:09)— Florida's first public school chaplain is a Jan. 6 supporter—and a warning to everyone. (1:26:18)— Judge shuts down California school district's attempt to revive Christian prayers at meetings. (1:36:10)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— An appeals court has vacated a ruling saying Ten Commandments posters in Louisiana schools are unconstitutional. (1:26)— Oklahoma has already started erasing Ryan Walters’ disastrous legacy. (14:14)— The Christian Right tried to make a late-night talk show—and it bombed spectacularly. (36:09)— Trump's NSPM-7 memo casts critics of Christianity as enemies of the state. (1:05:19)— Megachurch founder and Trump ally Robert Morris pleads guilty to child sex abuse. (1:20:00)— Faith, fear, and forced labor: The Kingdom of God Global Church scandal. (1:39:12)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Ryan Walters is resigning, ending his disastrous reign over Oklahoma's public schools. (1:20)— A Minnesota youth hockey league wanted to clear the ice after games. Christians flipped out. (24:50)— Liberty Counsel manufactured panic over "Witchy Wednesday" at a Florida high school. (36:00)— Texas Board of Education brings on Christian liar David Barton to rewrite Social Studies standards. (53:40)— A junior high basketball coach bragged at church about pushing the Bible on a kid. (1:07:35)— Trump's Justice Dept. drops probe into Hindu sect that paid workers $1.20/hr to build temple. (1:14:23)— West Virginia gave $5 million to a Catholic school in Ohio. A judge just blessed the deal. (1:25:58)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— The Rapture didn’t happen (again). Why do some people keep falling for it? (1:20)— Jesus Jerseys spark uproar in Virginia youth soccer league. (29:16)— Hawai’i Supreme Court defends secularism in blistering rebuke of John Roberts' SCOTUS (49:35)— Texas school districts defy court, face new lawsuit over Ten Commandments posters. (1:10:00)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— TN high school football coach suspended after pushing religion on kids during game. (4:13)— Appeals Court says Vermont public league must reinstate anti-trans Christian school. (22:06)—  U.S. military academies plan to accept the Christian Right’s inferior alternative to the SAT. (41:42)— Colorado pastor and wife ordered to repay $3.4M to victims of their crypto scam. (1:00:30)—- Oklahoma's Supreme Court blocks Ryan Walters' Bible-heavy Social Studies standards. (1:10:16)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— We’re having an in-person celebration in Naperville, IL to mark our 600th episode (and other pleasant things)! Details are here. Hope you can join us on September 13!  — The Catholic Church has a millennial saint, Carlo Acutis. Is that because of miracles or marketing? (1:40)— The initial report from Trump’s "Anti-Christian Bias" task force reveals... nothing. (18:30)— Quebec's proposed public prayer ban is a blunt attack on religious freedom. (48:45)— Christian parents let their baby die while awaiting a miracle. They'll be in jail for a month. (1:21:15)— Lawrence Krauss' "The War on Science" is a gift to science's real enemies. (1:33:15)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— We’re having an in-person celebration in Naperville, IL to mark our 600th episode (and other pleasant things)! Details are here. Hope you can join us on September 13!  — Oklahoma's meaningless "America First" teacher test is just a PragerU ad campaign. (1:45)— New Jersey town sues mall for ignoring Blue Laws and selling merch on Sundays. (34:49)— Mormon columnist who preached "traditional values" busted for alleged child exploitation. (48:55)— Judge orders Arkansas school district to remove illegal Ten Commandments posters. (1:02:15)— 25% of Texas districts are using Bible-heavy reading lessons in public elementary schools. (1:11:20)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— We’re having an in-person celebration in Naperville, IL to mark our 600th episode (and other pleasant things)! Details are here. Hope you can join us on September 13!  — James Dobson, an architect of evangelical Christian cruelty, is finally dead at 89. (1:50)— The Jehovah's Witnesses now say college is OK... after decades of saying the opposite. (31:10)— Republican congressional candidate torches Qur’an in hate-fueled campaign ad. (49:00)— Federal judge strikes down Minnesota's sensible "faith statement" ban for PSEO schools. (1:00:49)— Federal judge dismantles Ryan Walters' frivolous lawsuit against atheist group. (1:17:35)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— We’re having an in-person celebration in Naperville, IL to mark our 600th episode (and other pleasant things)! Details are here. Hope you can join us on September 13!  — Federal judge blocks Texas law forcing the Ten Commandments in schools from taking full effect. (1:50)— He's a priest. She was a 17-year-old dancer. He paid her to stay quiet. She refused. (31:13)— Christian pastors in Kentucky urge theft of LGBTQ books from Shelbyville public library. (43:55)— Faith, power, and abuse: The scandal rocking Truett McConnell University. (1:01:25)— Mylie Biggs, who believes women shouldn't run for office, is running for office. (1:24:35)— Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick demands citizens stand for Christian prayers—or else. (1:37:12)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.-– We’re having an in-person celebration in Naperville, IL to mark our 600th episode (and other pleasant things)! Details are here. Hope you can join us on September 13!  — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praises pastor who thinks women shouldn't have the right to vote. (1:45)— Pennsylvania priest accused of rigging church's Corvette raffle. (18:20)— Once again, Kim Davis wants the Supreme Court to destroy marriage equality. (33:10)— The "ministerial exception" is rapidly becoming a civil rights nightmare. (58:00)— Despite legal rulings, California school district tries to revive Christian prayers at meetings. (1:12:43)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Ryan Walters may not have watched nude women at work. But he still slandered his colleagues. (0:40)— Southern Baptist ethics leader resigns, likely due to pressure from MAGA extremists. (27:55)— Arizona Appeals Court reopens case against Mormon Church involving child abuse cover-up. (47:32)— Federal judge blocks Arkansas law forcing the Ten Commandments in schools from taking full effect. (1:06:28) — Bowing to religious pressure, West Point will rebrand bibles with academy's crest. (1:22:00)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Ryan Walters' TV displayed "nude women" during a meeting. Now he's blaming the media. (0:49)— An Alabama church secretly sent kids to evangelize in a homeless encampment. (30:05)— New memo lets government workers push Christianity on colleagues—even if they're the boss. (46:20)— "Shiny Happy People" sequel highlights Christian boot camp that traumatized a generation. (1:04:08)— Crypto for Christ? Colorado pastor and wife indicted in $3.4M INDXcoin scam. (1:11:45)— Indiana Lt. Gov. proposes death penalty as condition for abortion access for assault victims. (1:23:42)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Mehdi Hasan's Jubilee debate got a Catholic fascist fired. (0:28)— Textbook publishers are largely rejecting Ryan Walters' MAGA curriculum in Oklahoma. (23:52)— Louisiana pastor fired from library job after insisting on misgendering colleague. (44:20) — A coin toss made a Christian Nationalist mayor of Monroe, NC. It's been a disaster. (56:09)— Christian flag causes chaos in Connecticut town—because Satan wants in, too. (1:11:38)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Woman sues John MacArthur’s church for publicly shaming her for wanting to leave an abusive marriage. (0:23)— Speaking of which, John MacArthur is dead. (21:20)— Evangelicals lose their minds after Chip and Joanna Gaines cast gay couple on reality show. (36:18)— LGBTQ-affirming atheist group denied booth at St. John’s Pride Festival. (54:20)— Baylor University rejects $643,401 LGBTQ+ research grant after conservative backlash. (1:19:25)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Is the Johnson Amendment dead? IRS says churches can now endorse candidates from the pulpit. (1:35)— Hate-fueled, anti-gay sermons from Indiana New IFB church spark outrage. (32:30)— Court rules against West Virginia in $5,000,000 religious grant controversy. (52:59)— FOX & Friends promotes Creationist theme park in sponsored segment disguised as news. (1:04:25)— "Sheep do not judge the shepherd": Priest defends convicted abuser in shocking sermon. (1:17:20)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— ACLU sues Michigan school after Palestinian teen bullied by teacher over Pledge protest. (2:20)— Catholic school fires widowed teacher over same-sex marriage. (14:42)— Oklahoma sued over school standards that mix Christianity with right-wing lies. (38:18)— Supreme Court opens door to religious veto of public school lessons, starting with LGBTQ books. (55:55)— Trump policies force global Humanist conference to abandon U.S. plans. (1:11:42)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Vance Boelter and the deadly cost of religious extremism. (0:40)— Christian music icon Michael Tait's fall from grace. (17:50)— Sean Duffy turns military graduation into blatant ad for Christian Nationalism. (34:20)— Appeals Court blocks Louisiana law forcing Ten Commandments displays in classrooms. (53:05)— Trump has earned $1.3 million (so far) from his MAGA Bible grift. (1:07:44)— Christian parents let their baby die because of their faith. Now they’re going to prison. (1:15:22)— Colorado Springs City Council members target Pride Parade after "Hail Satan" shout-out. (1:25:37)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Kate Shellnutt is editorial director of news for Christianity Today. She has been a religion reporter and editor for more than 15 years, previously at the Houston Chronicle. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, The New York Times, and Vox and has been recognized by the Religion News Association and the Evangelical Press Association. I wanted to talk to her because she's spent last week at the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting. What is happening with the largest Protestant denomination in the country? Let's find out.This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.– He's Sikh, not Muslim: GOP Rep. Mary Miller's bigoted blunder goes viral. (0:41)– Arizona court blocks predator's confession from trial—because it was made to a pastor. (17:44)– A Christian Nationalist will lead the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. (31:15)– An Oklahoma City employee moonlights as a pastor who preaches death for LGBTQ people. (56:11)– Thou shalt not ignore the law: Illinois county sued over Ten Commandments monument. (1:12:15)– Supreme Court hands win to Catholic Charities in case that could gut worker protections. (1:31:30)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.– Sen. Joni Ernst defends "we all are going to die" comment with pitch to embrace Jesus. (0:48)– Christian Nationalist Sean Feucht accused of massive financial misconduct by former ministry insiders. (14:05)– Colorado passed a law to protect trans people. These pastors repeatedly lied about it. (31:39) – Quincy (MA) faces lawsuit over taxpayer-funded Catholic statues at police HQ. (49:20)– Catholic bishops file lawsuit to protect the secrets of sex predators. (1:06:46)– In California, students with disabilities can now attend religious schools on the public dime. (1:24:35)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.