🧵 Who's the most informed about American politics? Very lefty seculars. My new FREE study @sfjournal.bsky.social finds atheists/agnostics, especially if they are politically sorted, score higher on knowledge of basic civics & current politics than other groups. 1/ academic.oup.com/sf/advance-a...

“It feels like a little rebellion to just sit and be" The @washingtonpost.com on the growth across religious traditions of silent retreats www.washingtonpost.com/religion/202...

“I think that their allegiance to their political association trumps their connection to the cross,..This is really a critical moment for race relations in the nation.” Black Christian leaders speak out on the martyrizing of Charlie Kirk www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

Just published a story on how Black pastors have been talking about Charlie Kirk in their congregations. With @bellwak.bsky.social and @michelleboorstein.bsky.social wapo.st/46xXBnq

“They didn’t point fingers. And they certainly didn’t speak with any certainty about who did it, let alone their motive..I think all of them recognized that the country was terribly wounded." Historians on Erika Kirk www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

The U.S. has implemented additional scrutiny for Palestinian asylum seekers, requiring their applications to undergo a secondary review. This policy, unprecedented for an entire identity group, affects Palestinians with various travel documents.

Teachers are losing jobs as conservatives target lessons, speech they dislike

Powerful new reporting, by @hannahnatanson.bsky.social His wife was dying, his federal job crumbling. It tested his faith — in God and Trump. www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

"Spending a little on vaccination avoids spending a lot on treatment," Donald G. McNeil Jr. writes. https://wapo.st/41MxtUp

Ms. Magazine has a timely article on anti-abortion violence coming out in the print magazine laterthis month. It appears in four parts online: msmagazine.com/2025/09/16/a... msmagazine.com/2025/09/17/g... msmagazine.com/2025/09/18/r... msmagazine.com/2025/09/19/a...

Erika Kirk is a very modern type of political widow. @yvonnewingett.bsky.social and I look at how she is taking on this role. www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

Kirk says America is in a "spiritual battle." On one side are people who want low crime, to get married, buy a house. On the other side are LGBTQ people, Muslims playing the call to prayer. "The American way of life..is Christendom" x.com/AlexDuncanTX...

While decrying the alleged vilification of conservatives, far-right commentator Jesse Kelly says Democrats are communists and demons who must be snuffed out and purged from the country. www.peoplefor.org/rightwingwat...

NEW @washingtonpost.com investigation: Migrants locked up in a new Texas facility were subject to conditions that violated at least 60 federal standards. Violations including those to do with inmates' medical, safety and legal rights. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

NEW: The Trump administration has ordered the removal of signs and exhibits related to slavery at multiple national parks. The removals are in line with Trump's directive to eliminate information that disparages historic Americans. www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

This is an archived government report that found that “Since 1990, far-right extremists have committed far more ideologically motivated homicides than far-left or radical Islamist extremists.” It existed yesterday and is gone today.

Will my dog be in heaven? Grieving pet owners are finding more religious and spiritual support. Americans are reexamining the relationship between humans and the natural world. It’s changing their religious and spiritual beliefs and practices. www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

Fox News host on mentally ill people who commit crimes: “Just kill them” www.mediamatters.org/fox-friends/...

NEW: Texas has a new law offering schools the right to set aside time during the school day for prayer. The attorney general today issued a statement encouraging "children to begin with the Lord’s Prayer, as taught by Jesus Christ" www.oag.state.tx.us/news/release...

Billions in public $$ have gone to protect houses of worship and religious schools since 9/11. Much of it went to more-threatened religious minorities. This week’s attack on a Minneapolis church could be a “wake up” for Catholics on security $$. Story in the replies

"This was a monstrous assault on life, faith, and hope. Our hearts are broken but our resolve is strong to stand together against hate" - Rabbi Moshe Hauer, a leader with the country's largest Orthodox group, the Orthodox Union, on the Minneapolis killings

Christian nationalist pastor says that women are violating God's created order by participating in the public sphere: "They shouldn't be speaking. Period." www.peoplefor.org/rightwingwat...

A man in his early 20s shot thru church windows at a Minneapolis Catholic parish today, killing two children attending Mass, and injuring 17. Beyond horrific. He then killed himself in the parking lot, officials say. He does not have a criminal history. www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

"Pham headed to a courthouse to watch immigration hearings. He wore his clerical garb and a silver cross necklace, serving as a silent reminder of human dignity that he hoped would be comforting to migrants and thought-provoking to masked agents, gov't lawyers, judges and, eventually, the world."

Breaking news: Multiple children were injured in a shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school, a local hospital says. Local police said there is “no active threat to the community,” adding that “the shooter is contained.”

NEW: At least five children hospitalized from Minneapolis church shooting. We will keep updating asap as we learn and can confirm more: www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

President Trump and his administration have touted D.C.’s 12-day stretch without a homicide as “the first time that’s taken place in years." That's false. Here's the data:

Trump on deploying the National Guard to Chicago: "I have the right to do anything I want to do. I'm the president of the United States."

“It’s never been about whether or not I’m going to lose my tax-exempt status. It’s whether I’m going to lose my prophetic status.” Trump's IRS appears to loosen politicking restrictions on churches. But some say they still won't endorse. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/u...

Chicago celebrated baldness in the first-of-its-kind "bald-off." A man dressed as Mr. Clean won "Baddest Baldie," taking home a Pitbull Greatest Hits CD, a Megamind DVD and more as fitting prizes for the smoothest scalp in the city.

A new Texas law mandating 10 Commandments displays isn't "just a small poster," a faith advocate told The @washingtonpost.com. It "has to do with religious hegemony..whether you’re Catholic, Jewish, Muslim — sooner or later you’re going to get targeted.” www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

A law requiring all Texas classrooms to post the 10 Commandments is setting off a scramble this week for school districts. Some have worries about its constitutionality and are holding off. Others are racing to get donated posters of the commandments. www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

Is it legit to feature a sexually explicit photo with an article about the Establishment Clause, so that it has a tiny shot in hell of getting read during what will certainly be a TSUNAMI of Taylor-Travis engagement news? Asking for a friend.

Indiana's Christian nationalist Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith says that after the death of Billy Graham, God placed the mantle of being "the pastor to America" on ... Charlie Kirk.

He was a child refugee. Now he’s a bishop navigating Trump’s deportation push. Pope Leo's first US bishop pick, Bishop Michael Pham is part of a new wave of clerical leaders speaking out about migrants’ rights www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

He was a child refugee. Now he’s a bishop navigating Trump’s deportation push. Pope Leo's first US bishop pick, Bishop Michael Pham is part of a new wave of clerical leaders speaking out about migrants’ rights www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

Amid the general obits of conservative Christian figure James Dobson, some critics say Dobson is to blame for "terrorizing" conservative Christian children and for the politicized faith of the Trump era www.friendlyatheist.com/p/james-dobs...

Interesting - super-dramatized new audio Quran in English (actors, sound effects etc) Muslims have often been cautious about creative efforts involving scripture bc of worry about a) making images of the Prophet and b) being seen as “changing,” or “adding” www.audible.com/pd/The-Audio...

NEW @washingtonpost.com poll finds 80 percent of DC residents oppose Trump taking over the city's police and 65 percent say it won't make DC safer. 78 percent of DC residents say they feel safe or very safe in their neighborhoods. www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

“Violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people,” President Trump said of D.C. Post reporters retraced some of the president’s routes with the goal of seeing his view of Washington firsthand. wapo.st/4fPz3dV

Aug 14 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supports a woman's right to vote, the Pentagon said on Thursday, days after he reposted a video on X of a pastor advocating repealing the right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

DEVELOPING: Pam Bondi has ordered D.C.'s mayor to recognize the head of the DEA as ‘emergency police commissioner.’ She is also removing limits on the ability of police to inquire about residents’ immigration status www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

The @washingtonpost.com newsroom “continues to maintain its independence from the owner. The owner has not interfered in the news coverage, as far as I know. And I think all of us would know, because there would be an explosive reaction” @postbaron.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/arc...

Have questions about what's going on in DC? What powers Trump has to use federal power over the city? What's going on with crime in the district? NOON TODAY, ET: Washington Post reporters take your questions live www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Israel's military targeted a tent housing journalists, killing 5 Al Jazeera journalists who for many across the Arabic-speaking world were the faces of the current war. Israel has blocked independent media access to the Gaza Strip throughout the war. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

White House has no plan to mandate IVF care, despite campaign pledge. Critics say Medicaid cuts will further hurt people grow their families. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Two former Afghan interpreters for U.S. forces face deportation despite following immigration processes, according to attorneys for the men.

SCOOP: Smithsonian removes Trump from impeachment exhibit in American History Museum www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

For centuries, Catholics have sought divine wisdom from prayer, sacred texts and the writing of theologians. Now, there's a totally modern way for the faithful to find guidance. Behold: Magisterium AI. www.washingtonpost.com/religion/202...

Despite the increasing rate of allergic diseases, both in industrialized and in developing countries, the Amish remain exceptionally — and bafflingly — resistant.