357 - Ryan Cragun (Beyond Doubt)
American Freethought Podcast
I interview Ryan Cragun, co-author of Beyond Doubt: The Secularization of Society, a new book that makes a compelling argument that secularization has indeed been happening, both in the United States and around the world. You can buy a copy of for yourself. Theme music courtesy of . Follow American Freethought on the intertubes: Website: Twitter: Facebook: Libsyn Classic Feed: Contact: Support the Podcast: funds to [email protected]
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356 - Matt Johnson (How Hitchens Can Save the Left)
American Freethought Podcast
I interview Matt Johnson, whose new book How Hitchens Can Save the Left argues that the late Christopher Hitchens's staunch defense of classical liberalism is still useful, even 11 years after his death, in helping the American Left to resist some of its more illiberal tendencies. Buy a copy of for yourself! Theme music courtesy of . Follow American Freethought on the intertubes: Website: Twitter: Facebook: Libsyn Classic Feed: Contact: Support the Podcast: funds to [email protected]
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355 - Joseph Monninger (Goodbye to Clocks Ticking)
American Freethought Podcast
I interview Joseph Monninger, a college professor and novelist who discovered, only three days after his retirement, that he had terminal lung cancer and likely only months to live. His memoir Goodbye to Clocks Ticking is a heartfelt, humanistic account of facing death and processing an unexpected reprieve. Buy a copy of for yourself, and be sure to check out Joe's other books. Reading/listening recommendations: by Stephen Bullivant. "," a profile in The New Yorker magazine by David Remnick. , a podcast hosted by Megan Phelps-Roper. Theme music courtesy of . Follow American Freethought...
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354 - Bradley Onishi (Preparing for War)
American Freethought Podcast
I interview Bradley Onishi, cohost of the Straight White American Jesus podcast, and author of the new book Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism—And What Comes Next. It's a terrifying look at the recent history of Christian nationalism and evangelical support for anti-democratic ideas. For more about Bradley and his work visit . Listen to his podcast . Buy a copy of Preparing for War . Also mentioned in the podcast: The outgoing Congress passed a bill (which President Biden signed into law) authorizing a in the District of Columbia. One of the...
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353 - Daniel Sokatch (Can We Talk about Israel?)
American Freethought Podcast
I interview Daniel Sokatch, CEO of the New Israel Fund and author of Can We Talk about Israel? A Guide for the Curious, Confused, and Conflicted. Buy a copy of for yourself. For more about the New Israel Fund, visit . Theme music courtesy of . Follow American Freethought on the intertubes: Website: Twitter: Facebook: Libsyn Classic Feed: Contact: Support the Podcast: funds to [email protected]
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352 - Emily Dreyfuss (Meme Wars)
American Freethought Podcast
I interview Emily Dreyfuss, co-author (with Dr. Joan Donovan and Brian Friedberg) of Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America. Buy a copy of for yourself. Theme music courtesy of . Follow American Freethought on the intertubes: Website: Twitter: Facebook: Libsyn Classic Feed: Contact: Support the Podcast: funds to [email protected]
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351 - David Hollinger (Christianity's American Fate)
American Freethought Podcast
With less than two weeks to go before the midterms, I talk with David A. Hollinger, history professor at the University of California, Berkley, and author of Christianity's American Fate: How Religion Became More Conservative and Society More Secular. This timely new book explores how, while American culture remains overwhelmingly secular, evangelical Christianity has outperformed its more liberal American counterparts and gained control of the Republican Party. Buy a copy of for yourself. Theme music courtesy of . Follow American Freethought on the intertubes: Website: Twitter: ...
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350 - David Driscoll on SCOTUS rulings, Jan 6th, and more!
American Freethought Podcast
For this special episode, I'm joined by podcast co-founder and co-host emeritus David Driscoll. We talk about the recent disastrous Supreme Court rulings (Carson v Makin, Kennedy v Bremerton, and Dobbs v Jackson); the ramifications of the House Select Committee on the events of January 6, 2021; and possible Constitutional crises and other terrifying scenarios that might play out over the next couple of years. Theme music courtesy of . Follow American Freethought on the intertubes: Website: Twitter: Facebook: Libsyn Classic Feed: Contact: Support the Podcast: funds to...
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349 - Nadya Dutchin (Exec Dir, American Humanist Association)
American Freethought Podcast
I interview Nadya Dutchin, the new Executive Director of the American Humanist Association. Our wide-ranging discussion includes her plans and hopes for the AHA; reaction to the gun massacres in Buffalo, NY and Uvalde, TX; raising secular kids in the current social and political climate; the effect of the newly conservative Supreme Court on litigation; and the future of secularism and humanism in America. For more information about the American Humanist Association, visit . Theme music courtesy of . Follow American Freethought on the intertubes: Website: Twitter: Facebook: ...
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348 - Association of Secular Elected Officials
American Freethought Podcast
I speak to two members of the leadership of the Association of Secular Elected Officials (ASEO), a new organization devoted to helping elected officials be authentic about their beliefs and ethics, and providing a forum for elected officials to connect with each other for education, support and fellowship. Leonard Pressberg is the founder and president of the Association, and serves on the Board of Education in Fayette County, Georgia. Kristiana de Leon is on the Board of Directors of the Association, and serves on the City Council of Black Diamond, Washington. For more about the Association...
info_outlineFrom Pepe the Frog to the kidding-not-kidding white power hand sign, conservatives are increasingly using "humor" and weird "inside jokes" to spread hate-speech, bigotry, and violent threats. The latest tiresome fad is the phrase "Let's Go Brandon," which is a not-so-thinly-veiled substitute for the more blunt "Fuck Joe Biden." Republican congressmen repeat it in floor speeches, or wear face masks emblazoned with it, in the House chamber. On at least one occasion, a conservative crowd chanted it in church.
Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ) has been censured by the House for tweeting a modified anime video depicting him killing fellow Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and slashing at President Joe Biden. Unrepentant, he retweeted the video immediately after his censure. Meanwhile, over the Thanksgiving weekend, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (R-CO) joked that Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN), a Muslim, was a member of the "Jihad Squad" and implied she could be a suicide bomber.
Newsmax White House correspondent Emerald Robinson has been pulled from the air after tweeting bizarre warnings about the (real-life) COVID-detection process SATiN that uses a drop of blood and the bioluminescent enzyme luciferase. Mark of the Beast or some such nonsense.
Plus:
Thanksgiving turns 400, and Native Americans still struggle to counter the ahistorical mythology surrounding it.
Trump's former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn says the United States must have "One nation under God, and one religion under God." If the Founders could hear him, they'd never stop throwing up.
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Support the Podcast: PayPal funds to [email protected]