January 2019

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Queer Disbelief, a book Hemant edited, is now out on Kindle and in paperback! Go pick up a copy!

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.

— What have we learned about the MAGA hat-wearing kids who were in the middle of a media firestorm? (0:20)

— The Trump administration will allow a South Carolina faith-based foster care agency to discriminate against non-Christians using taxpayer funding. (19:30)

— The definition of “domestic violence” has changed, for some reason, under the Trump administration. (24:02)

— A Virginia legislator voted against the Equal Rights Amendment because God already says men and women are equal. (27:25)

— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appeared on a Twitch livestream and helped raise $340,000 for a trans rights charity. (35:30)

— Conan O’Brien had an optimistic take on what could be a very depressing thought. (42:32)

— How do we fund Donald Trump’s border wall? One Arizona legislator wants to issue a tax on adult content online. (48:00)

— Being a virgin, like everything else, is no excuse to commit a mass shooting. (54:33)

— A Mormon gay conversion therapist says he wants to date men. (55:44)

— A judge ruled against a lesbian couple who were rejected from a faith-based retirement home. (1:01:20)

Jesse Thorn is the owner of the Maximum Fun podcast network, an journalist with NPR, and a podcast host. Jessica and Jesse discussed how comedy and comedians have changed in recent years, the role of kindness in skepticism, and his truly delightful anecdote about Maya Angelou. Also he made fun of 16″ softball which is basically a crime against Chicagoans.

If you support what we’re doing, please contribute to our Patreon page!

Queer Disbelief, a book Hemant edited, is now out on Kindle and in paperback! Go pick up a copy!

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.

— Second Lady Karen Pence is working at an anti-LGBTQ Christian school. (5:20)

— A study finds that more than half of young transgender men attempt suicide. (20:15)

— North Dakota may finally repeal the last of its Blue Laws. (23:08)

— An Indiana legislator wants Creationism‘ taught in the classroom… again. (26:30)

— A Christian hate group is furious that gay parents are on the cover of Parents magazine. (29:10)

— Christian radio host Jesse Lee Peterson lashed out against several female freshmen Democrats for the worst reasons. (32:45)

— Former World Series MVP and outspoken Christian John Wetteland has been charged with the worst sort of crime. (35:50)

— Michael Cohen paid a Liberty University IT guy to rig polls for Donald Trump in 2016. (40:05)

— Jenny McCarthy is a global health threat. (42:38)

— A crucified Ronald McDonald is the subject of protests outside an Israeli art museum. (46:00)

— A pastor who said Caitlin Jenner was “still a man” no longer has a job. (47:28)

— 41% of Republicans would be very uncomfortable with a female president. Because of course they would. (48:50)

(Screenshot via YouTube)

If you support what we’re doing, please contribute to our Patreon page!

Queer Disbelief, a book Hemant edited, is now out on Kindle and in paperback! Go pick up a copy!

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.

— Congressional Freethought Caucus co-chair Rep. Jamie Raskin said the GOP is “operating like a religious cult.” (5:30)

— Canada has granted asylum to the Saudi woman trying to escape her religious parents. (7:41)

— Catholics trust clergy members less than ever before. (14:20)

— The historical phrase “CE” is upsetting British Christians. (17:17)

— States are already pushing for mandatory Bible classes in public high schools. (21:25)

— Liberty Counsel is furious that an anti-lynching bill includes protection for LGBTQ people. (29:05)

— Hate-Pastor Donnie Romero has resigned from his church after admitting multiple sins (but he insists he still hates gay people). (33:36)

— The Dutch version of the anti-LGBTQ Nashville Statement has pro-LGBTQ secular competition. (39:10)

— Pat Robertson doesn’t understand how internet searches work. (42:42)

(Image via Secular Coalition for America)