334 - Rep. Jared Huffman (Congressional Freethought Caucus)
Release Date: 08/08/2021
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_outlineI interview Representative Jared Huffman (Democrat representing California's 2nd District), co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Freethought Caucus. We talk about the origins, purpose, and recent activity of the Freethought Caucus; about perennial issues (like the national motto, the Pledge of Allegiance, legislative prayer, etc.) of concern to freethinkers; public policy and public acceptance (or denial) of science; and the current "civil war" within the GOP between the traditionalists and the more rabid Trumpist/MAGA/QAnon faction.
For more about Congressman Huffman visit https://huffman.house.gov.
For more about the Congressional Freethought Caucus click here.
We touched on the work of Jeff Sharlet in exposing The Family (the secretive, but powerful, Christian organization best known to the public as sponsor of the so-called National Prayer Breakfast). For more about The Family, you can listen to our interviews with Jeff Sharlet in episodes 67 and 105.
Plus:
Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has resigned after his cellphone data was used to track his participation in the gay hookup app Grindr. You will recall the USCCB briefly threatened action (potentially denial of Communion or even excommunication) against American politicians--including President Joe Biden--who are self-proclaimed Catholics who nonetheless support a woman's right to choose when it comes to birth control and abortion.
Defrocked Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, 91 years old, has been charged in Massachusetts with sexually assaulting a teenaged boy in 1974. The charges are made possible after so long a time due to a quirk in Massachusetts' statute of limitations, which places a "pause" on the countdown when an offender leaves the state. McCarrick was only defrocked two years ago, and reports reveal that multiple popes either ignored McCarrick's misdeeds or tried to downplay the church's response.
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Support the Podcast: PayPal funds to [email protected]