Friendly Atheist Podcast
The Friendly Atheist Podcast is hosted by Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke Greiff. They discuss the latest news, politics, and pop culture through the lens of atheism and religion. It is the official podcast associated with FriendlyAtheist.com.
Episodes
656 - The Grifty Legacy of Jim Bakker
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.— Jim Bakker, the godfather of scamvangelism, is dead at 86. (0:21)— A Christian influencer says he went to Heaven and met a testoste
655 - Noah's Ark Was Not "100% Confirmed"
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 Christian grift behind Life Surge’s celebrity-packed wealth seminars. (0:32)— Scientists have not “100% confirmed” the resting
654 - Jehovah's Witnesses Gut Their Blood Ban
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.— Jehovah’s Witnesses just gutted their deadly blood transfusion policy. (0:20)— Trump’s “Top 250 Victories for People of Faith” coll
653 - This Megachurch Has Eyes Everywhere
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 Texas megachurch’s 400 AI-powered surveillance cameras are deeply disturbing. (0:40)— GOP candidate Michael Whatley’s “integrity”
652 - Can White Evangelicals Be Defended?
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.— Bonnie Kristian’s “Defense of Evangelicalism” avoids the real problem. (0:17)— Christian missionaries were not kicked out of Burnin
651 - Justice Dept. Releases False "Anti-Catholic" Bias Report
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.— Justice Department “Weaponization” report falsely accuses FBI of anti-Catholic bias. (0:55)— Maine Supreme Court says dad can block
650 - A Demon Hunter Showdown
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.— Conservative Christians in Texas are trying to harass Muslims out of existence. (1:08)— Dethroned Miss North Carolina USA sues page
649 - Ten Commandments Showdown at Supreme Court
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’ Ten Commandments law is heading toward a Supreme Court showdown. (0:32)— Colorado school district dumps Bible-heavy curricul
648 - Christian Beauty Queen Loses Crown Over Racist Posts
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.— Miss North Carolina USA said she lost her crown due to her faith. Then the racist posts surfaced. (1:34)— Virginia school district
647 - Anti-LGBTQ Food Bank Leader Rejects Gay Food
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.— Annoying "Sky Evangelist" kicked off airline after scaring everyone with her preaching. (0:55)— West Virginia pastor reje
646 - Christian Preachers on Airplanes
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.— NaNoCon is happening in Nashville, TN July 31-August 2. The atheist lineup is incredible! Tickets are still available! Co
645 - Tribe Tells Pastor to Get Off Reservation
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.— Arapaho tribe tells pastor to leave reservation after she trashes their sacred traditions. (1:07)— Mylie Biggs, who believes women
644 - Christian Momfluencer Wants White Babies
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 influencer brags that she had six kids to "help the white race." (0:41)— Lindsey Graham was an opponent of church/state s
643 - This Christian Pastor Fooled Everyone
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 pastor going viral for rejecting Christian Nationalism isn't what he seems. (0:45)— Chuck Schumer's favorite Founding Fathers q
642 - Worst Vacation Bible School Ever
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.— Viral video shows church staging fake execution during Vacation Bible School. (0:26)— A Christian school that tried to shame a gay
641 - The Downfall of Jackson Lahmeyer
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.— SCOTUS says Rastafarian can't sue prison guards who violated his faith and cut off his dreadlocks. (1:07)— Trump-backed pastor Jack
640 - Warren Throckmorton, The Christian Past That Wasn't
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!Warren Throckmorton is an author and speaker specializing in psychology and history. Now retired, he worked as a psychology professor at a Christian college and produced, wrote, and hosted the critically acclaimed po
639 - Pete Hegseth Destroys Military Religion List
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 Atlanta this weekend at the Revival of Reason conference sponsored by Black Nonbelievers. Come if you’re
638 - Ark Encounter's Decade-Long Disaster
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.— Ark Encounter's decade-long disaster: How the Creationist theme park failed on its promises (0:48)— “Swallow it!”: A Christian "pro
637 - This Religion Wants to Destroy Your Pets
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.— James Talarico will face Ken Paxton this November in a battle for the Senate. Who will white evangelicals choose? (0:20) — A s
636 - The Orthodox Jewish Agenda Behind Kars4Kids
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 White House hosted a taxpayer-funded Christian Nationalist rally in D.C. (0:43)— California judge bans Kars4Kids ads for hiding
635 - Greg Locke Finally Admits He Lied
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.— America will “rededicate” the nation to a Christian God this weekend. (1:05)— A private Muslim event at a Texas water park was lega
634 - The Failure of Trump's Anti-Christian Bias Task Force
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 final report from Trump’s "Anti-Christian Bias" task force reveals... nothing. (1:00)— A Christian phone network aims to purify
633 - Indiana's Lt. Gov. picks fight with "demonic" band kids
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.— Indiana Lt. Gov. faces backlash after calling high school band kids “demonic.” (0:39)— Megachurch pastor’s Senate tease&n
632 - Can Anti-LGBTQ Catholic Preschools Get Public Funding?
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 Denver, Colorado this weekend! Details are here!— Texas can force Ten Commandments posters&nbs
631 - Congressman Eric Swalwell Resigns
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.— Eric Swalwell’s resignation caps an up-and-down history with secular humanism. (0:45)— A barista says she was fired for her Christi
630 - NBA Player Waived After Anti-LGBTQ Rant
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.— Florida attorney general says state can ignore its own constitution to fund religion. (0:54)— Bulls cut Jaden Ivey&n
629 - Matthew Boedy on The Seven Mountains Mandate
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. H
628 - The Duggars Are At It Again
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 s
627 - Christian Candidate Too Extreme for Australia
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 dump
626 - Andy Ogles' Despicable Comments Against Muslims
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
625 - The Iran War and Armageddon
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 tr
624 - Christian Nationalism Has Taken Over the GOP
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 sc
623 - Whitewashing a Pastor's Disturbing Legacy
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
622 - "He Gets Us" Still Doesn't Get It
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-lace
621 - Texas Conservatives Are Scared of James Talarico
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
620 - An Arizona Push for School Board Prayers
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 pr
619 - An Anti-ICE Protest at a Minnesota Church
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
618 - Church Whistleblower's Unjust Fine Upheld
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 conver
617 - Measles at Ark Encounter
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 Enco
616 - Garbage Year in Review
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)—
615 - Pete Hegseth's War on Military Chaplains
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
614 - There's No Religious Revival in America
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 administrat
613 - Christian Mom Kidnaps Daughter
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 Cour
612 - Christian Student Blames Persecution for Failed Assignment
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 tol
611 - Marissa Franks Burt, Co-Author of The Myth of Good Christian Parenting
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
610 - The Catholic League’s Bizarre Epstein Defense
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!— Supre
609 - TikToker Exposes Churches That Won't Help a Hungry Baby
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 Jam
608 - JD Vance Wants His Hindu Wife to Convert
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 i
607 - Christian Nationalist vs. Zohran Mamdani's "Values"
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
606 - How Megachurches Use the Bible to Defend Billionaires
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 billionai
605 - Gun-toting Pastor Promotes "Violent Action of Faith"
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
604 - Megachurch Pastor (and Trump Ally) Sentenced to Jail
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
603 - Goodbye and Good Riddance to Ryan Walters
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 clea
602 - Marked Safe from the Rapture (Again)
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
601 - The Christian Right's Anti-Woke SAT Alternative
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 rei
600 - Carlo Acutis, the First Millennial Saint
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
599 - Oklahoma’s Scammy PragerU Teacher "Test"
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
598 - James Dobson Is Finally Dead
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
597 - This Candidate for Office Opposes Women in Office
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
596 - Kim Davis Asks SCOTUS to End Marriage Equality
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 ca
595 - Southern Baptist Ethics Leader Resigns
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,
594 - Ryan Walters' Naughty, Naughty Computer
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 evangel
593 - His Faith Teaches Disrespect
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
592 - John MacArthur's Poisonous Legacy
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 MacArth
591 - The End of the Johnson Amendment?
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 India
590 - Catholic School Fires Widowed Gay Teacher
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 s
589 - The Deadly Cost of Religious Extremism
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 tu
588 - The Southern Baptist Convention's Annual Meeting (with Kate Shellnutt)
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 Tim
587 - Rep. Mary Miller's Hateful Invocation Blunder
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—becau
586 - Sen. Joni Ernst Uses Jesus to Distract from Death
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 m
585 - The Censorship of The Crucible
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.– Georgia high school cancels "The Crucible" after complaints of "demonic" themes. (0:30)– Texas Democrat exposes GOP hypocrisy in bill forcing
584 - The Price to Make Jerry Falwell, Jr. Go Away
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.– Good news! The Supreme Court deadlocked on allowed the first-ever taxpayer-funded religious charter school in Oklahoma. (0:20) – Liberty
583 - Jehovah’s Witnesses Target Longtime Critic
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.– There’s a new pope! (0:10)– Jehovah’s Witnesses are suing a reporter for "wiretapping"—after inviting him on the call. (5:45)– Conservative C
582 - NJ City Aims to Seize Church
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.– Trump Justice Dept. sides with Catholic Church to fight law requiring priests to report abuse. (0:49)– "How much God do you need?" School boa
581 - Atheists Are Rejecting Trump
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 Supreme Court heard a case to decide if taxpayers should fund a religious charter school. (0:26)— Southern Baptist membership hits 50-yea
580 - The (Real) Legacy of Pope Francis
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.— Don’t let nostalgia rewrite the real legacy of Pope Francis. (0:45)— After public outcry, a Mormon seminary will not be built at an Arizona p
579 - Washington Closes Confession Admission Loophole
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.— Washington bill ends clergy loophole: Confessions no longer shield child abusers. (0:30)— Catholic hospital ditches "pro-life" rhetoric to av
578 - The IRS and the Johnson Amendment
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.— A church told members how to vote. The IRS officially says that's fine. (1:10)— A public school district in Arizona agreed to build a Mormon
577 - Interview with YouTuber Kristi Burke
Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Kristi Burke is an ex-evangelical Christian who began deconstructing her faith at 19. She creates YouTube content that supports others navigating their own deconstruction journeys, offering insight, solidarity, and encouragement. As the
