@nexusproject.bsky.social's Jonathan Jacoby joins The State of Belief this week for an in-depth conversation on confronting antisemitism — and its weaponization.

We are deeply alarmed by the intensifying atmosphere of censorship and aggressive crackdown on free speech that is unfolding in the United States. Our full statement:

Librarians are at a tipping point, explains @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social's President, @samhelmick.bsky.social. Listen to the full episode here: stateofbelief.com/2025/septemb...

Today’s issue of A Public Witness takes you to the heart of Texas to consider the promise of public education and church-state separation as advocated for at @interfaithalliance.org’s first-ever Religious Freedom in Public Schools summit.

“The fight for democracy is a local fight." Our CEO @skyeperryman.bsky.social delivered remarks at @interfaithalliance.org’s Religious Freedom in Schools Summit about the anti-democratic movement threatening our education system and how we're working to protect people's rights. 👇

A month from today, we will gather for the largest peaceful protest in American history. The only way to protect our freedom of speech is to exercise our freedom of speech. Join your local event to make it clear there are still NO KINGS in the USA: www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=i...

Last week, faith leaders gathered at the second annual Interfaith Countering Hate Summit in Boise, co-hosted by Western States Center and the national @interfaithalliance.org. bit.ly/3VStx0T

Read all about our first-ever Religious Freedom in Public Schools summit in @keranews.org!

AMP 2025 keynote speaker Scot Nakagawa gave a fantastic speech at our Interfaith Countering Hate Summit last week in Boise, co-hosted with the @interfaithalliance.org. Read it here—and don't forget to register for AMP to hear more from Scot! open.substack.com/pub/antiauth...

We are ALL IN. Join the #NoKings October kick-off call on Thursday @ 8pm ET!

This week on our podcast, The State of Belief: Libraries, faith, and religious freedom with @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social President, @samhelmick.bsky.social!

Grateful for the fellowship with @raushenbush.bsky.social on State of Belief podcast to explore freedom, faith, libraries, and #LibraryCardSignUpMonth. 💜 religionnews.com/2025/09/13/l... #ShowUpForOurLibraries

" We need to combat authoritarianism because we don't want our faith compromised by a theocratic authoritarian. " @raushenbush.bsky.social

We agree. Proud to be joined by @aft.org's @rweingarten.bsky.social and Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum this week!

It was a highlight of my career to host @rweingarten.bsky.social and her wife Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum to deliver a co-keynote address at our National Religious Freedom in Public Schools Summit in Dallas! Faith and unions standing strong for the dignity of ALL!

" @raushenbush.bsky.social, a Baptist minister and president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance, said the strategy to struggle against the push toward authoritarian Christian nationalism is 'countering with love, countering with stories about one another.'"

It was great to see our sweet friend @wiljay.bsky.social @secularhouston.bsky.social at the @interfaithalliance.org Religious Freedom In Public Schools Summit. @cjtackett.bsky.social

This week, we filed an amicus curiae brief in Newsom v. Trump, supporting Governor Newsom and U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer’s ruling that the Trump administration broke the law when it deployed approximately 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines to Los Angeles.

"Antisemitism in schools is serious... Unfortunately Congress and this administration are taking a dangerous and wrong-headed approach that subordinates the needs of Jewish students to a political agenda." - @rabbijilljacobs.bsky.social, CEO of @truahrabbis.bsky.social

We are shocked and horrified by the killing of Charlie Kirk. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones amidst this tragedy. There can never be any tolerance whatsoever for political violence, which threatens the safety of all communities and of democracy itself.

President Trump’s use of the military in Los Angeles for law enforcement activities is illegal – that’s why Governor Newsom is suing. On behalf of @interfaithalliance.org, we filed an amicus brief in Newsom v. Trump, urging the court to uphold the order stopping the National Guard deployment in CA.

Baptist minister and Interfaith Alliance President & CEO, Reverend @raushenbush.bsky.social, sounds the alarm on Trump’s impending guidance to “protect” prayer in public schools 🚨🙏

“The most pressing threat to religious liberty in our country today is the Trump administration itself. Religious Americans don’t need their protection – we need protection from their attacks." -Rev. @raushenbush.bsky.social

It's disgraceful that administration officials spoke at a conference filled with hateful and derogatory attacks on Muslims and Islam. This White House isn't promoting religious freedom — it's targeting Muslims and other disfavored faith groups for discrimination and demonization.

September and October are filled with sacred Jewish holidays. We hope organizations, schools, and local governments will be inclusive of the Jewish community by avoiding scheduling major events on these dates. Check out the dates here and share it to help spread the word.

One of our team members spotted a Project 2025 graveyard in Washington, DC 👀

“I wanted to know what they were saying when no one else was in the room." Journalist and author @swordsjew.bsky.social shares her experiences researching online right-wing extremism and Christian Nationalism with primary sources and undercover investigation on The State of Belief this week!

Our hearts are with the Minneapolis community impacted by today’s horrific shooting at Annunciation Catholic School. Once again, faith communities and houses are worship are not immune to the epidemic of mass shootings here in the United States.

In a new legal filing, Interfaith Alliance just told the Supreme Court that banning conversion therapy for minors does NOT violate the free exercise of religion.

“As Dr. King once said, ‘The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.’ Humbly, I would add, it doesn't bend on its own. History tells us we often have to apply force needed to make sure that the arc gets where it needs to go. This is one of those times.” -Gov. JB Pritzker

This week on The State of Belief: @interfaithamerica.bsky.social CEO, @therevadam.bsky.social!

"We find ourselves at a crossroads.": Interfaith America CEO Adam Nicholas Phillips is the guest on this week's "State of Belief," hosted by Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenush. Learn about IA's work to improve collaboration in classrooms and workplaces. https://bit.ly/4mSzE0O

"James Dobson had a major role in the shaping of American Christianity, not to the benefit either of the faith or the country." -Rev. @raushenbush.bsky.social

"James Dobson had a major role in the shaping of American Christianity, from my perspective, not to the benefit either of the faith or the country” - that about sums it up

"...for Rev. @raushenbush.bsky.social, president of Interfaith Alliance, a national progressive faith group, the politicization that Dobson brought to his approach to religion drove some people away from the church."

"Patrick, Bondi and Trump continue to shroud their authoritarianism in religiosity, and those of us who believe in religious liberty will continue to call them out."

"It should be easy for all Americans, regardless of their ideological and political persuasions, to agree that the government should not be forcing people to stand for a prayer." - @guthriegf.bsky.social

First they came for trans kids And I did not speak out Because I was not trans Then they came for the immigrants And I did not speak out Because I was not an immigrant Then they came for me And there was no one left To speak out for me

BREAKING: In a win for religious freedom and the separation of church & state, a federal judge ruled that Texas's SB10 — requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms across the state — likely violates the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment.

Join this call tonight!

TONIGHT: Let’s talk about how we can step up to defend our communities and the rule of law. Join Minnesota AG @keithellison.bsky.social, FL Rep. @annaforflorida.bsky.social, MD Comptroller @brookelierman.bsky.social, NY Rep. @micahlasher.bsky.social, and CA labor activist Héctor (Teto) Huezo.

"It’s just sort of taking a bulldozer to Christian teaching and then sprinkling Bible verses on top." - @guthriegf.bsky.social

Check out our brand new resource on trans rights and religious freedom 🏳️‍⚧️ cc @aclu.org @keshetlgbtqjews.bsky.social

"We're going to stop mail-in-ballots because it's corrupt." 🙃 With his attacks on mail-in voting and voting machines, Trump continues to threaten the core of our democracy — the sacred right to vote.

"How dare you censor the female voice?" Muslim feminist, Ani Zonneveld, talks her new memoir and founding Muslims for Progressive Values on The State of Belief this week!

Reminder: The United States is a religious freedom nation. We can’t and won’t be told by the government how to pray.

OPINION by Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, vice president of programs and strategy, Interfaith Alliance: “It’s the belief that wives shouldn’t have political opinions distinct from their husbands that’s drawing CREC the most negative attention.” READ MORE: www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...

“Pete Hegseth should say if he shares this pastor’s disdain for the 19th Amendment,” argues our own @guthriegf.bsky.social.

Loved talking with the hilarious, spiritual and deeply committed democracy champion @johnfugelsang.bsky.social about his new book Separation of Church and Hate - this is a funny book but also serious - check it out

Happening today at 1pm ET, with our very own Political & Policy Director, Rachel Deitch! ⤵️