Just Liberty

Houses of worship are no longer off-limits for immigration enforcement as the Trump administration pursues aggressive new policies. But some faith groups are drawing First Amendment lines and asking the courts to enforce them.   Guest: Noah Merrill, Secretary, New England Yearly Meeting of Friends   Show Notes: The legal complaint filed by Quakers and others against the new immigration enforcement policies: https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Complaint.pdf Background information to the case and preliminary injunction: https://www.friendsjournal.org/quakers-sue-immigration/ Website for the New England Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends: https://neym.org  

How did Afghanistan became the world's largest prison for women? Interview with Sima Samar. The Taliban has ruled Afghanistan since the US and NATO pulled out in 2021. Within days, they began rolling back the hard-won civil rights of women and girls. Today, to be female in Afghanistan is to be legally vulnerable and physically isolated. Sima Samar, a former Minister of Women's Affairs for Afghanistan, now in exile in the US, provides an inside perspective on this human rights tragedy fueled by religious extremism. Guest: X: https://x.com/drsimasamar?lang=en Show Notes: Liberty article on the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban: "Hidden and Alone" by Matias Perttula. https://www.libertymagazine.org//article/hidden-and-alone Dr Samar's recently published book about her experiences in Afghanistan, Outspoken. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/721723/outspoken-by-sima-samar-with-sally-armstrong/

When Ron Hittle was fired by city leaders citing his attendence at a "religious event," Ron faced a choice. Accept the decision and move on or stand up against religious discimination. He chose the more difficult path and has now asked the Supreme Court to hear his case that tests legal protection for people of faith in the workplace.

Suffering a political-party hangover? There's a remedy for that. The creators of "The After Party"--Curtis Chang, Russell Moore, and David French--have some thoughts for Christians trying to navigate America's toxic political landscape. We talk with podcaster, theologian, and evangelical leader Curtis Chang about "The After Party"--an online curriculum, book, and worship album aimed at helping Christians reframe their political identity. ______________ X: https://x.com/curtischangRB https://x.com/redeemingbabel FB: https://www.facebook.com/CurtisChangOfficial/ https://www.facebook.com/redeemingbabel Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtischang/ ______________ The After Party website: https://redeemingbabel.org/the-after-party/ The Good Faith podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-faith/id1594454747 The After Party worship album: https://redeemingbabel.org/the-after-party/worship-album/  

A clause for confusion? The much-debated meaning of the First Amendment's establishment clause. What exactly did our colonial forebears have in mind when they forbade laws "respecting an establishment of religion"? And why have we been arguing about it ever since? We take a tour through American history and Supreme Court jurisprudence with First Amendment scholar and author Charles Haynes. _________________ X: @1stForAll FB: https://www.facebook.com/FirstAmendmentForAll/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/1stforall/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/freedomforum/" _________________ Show Notes: Freedom Forum website: https://www.freedomforum.org Background on the establishment clause: https://www.freedomforum.org/the-establishment-clause/ News story on recent Supreme Court establishment clause decisions: https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2022/07/17/supreme-court-church-state-religion-coach/  

"How and when did evangelical Christians become a predictable voting bloc? And what does this shift mean--not only for American politics, but for the church itself? We talk with Barry Hankins, an author, professor, and renowned historian of the evangelical movement, about the consequences of politicized Christianity and the forces that drive it." _______________ Show Notes: Liberty magazine article: ""It's All About Me: How the culture wars are redefining evangelicals and religious liberty."" https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/its-all-about-me   Books authored or co-authored by Dr. Hankins: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Barry-Hankins/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ABarry+Hankins  

College-age students have opinions about the Israel-Gaza war and they're finding ways to share them. But when does political protest morph into something darker? We talk with church-state scholar Michael A. Helfand, professor at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, about rising antisemitism in America and the lines between free speech, discrimination, and harassment. _________________ X: @MAHelfand Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-helfand-22653313/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/michael.a.helfand _________________ Show Notes News report: "Free Speech Survey Signals Distrust and Disconnection." https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2024/09/09/free-speech-survey-signals-distrust-and-disconnection  

Flags and fury: the most important Christian movement you've never heard of. Interview with Matthew D. Taylor.   The so-called "Appeal to Heaven" flag entered the national conversation recently with news it had been flown over a house owned by Supreme Court justice Samuel Alito. But what is the story behind this flag and the powerful, yet relatively unknown, Christian movement that has embraced its symbolism? We talk with scholar and author Matthew D. Taylor about the theology, mission, and growing influence of the New Apostolic Reformation. __________ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.taylor.9231 X: @TaylorMatthewD Linked: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylormatthewd/ __________   Show Notes:   Liberty magazine article: America's Spiritual Warriors. https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/americas-spiritual-warriors Interview with Matthew Taylor in NY Magazine: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/the-christian-nationalism-behind-the-appeal-to-heaven-flag.html Forthcoming book by Matthew D. Taylor, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy. https://www.amazon.com/Violent-Take-Force-Matthew-Taylor-ebook/dp/B0CTJHYQ9J/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lQsjEFbuPxt_vw9QlaYMUgzKMMia_hC5_fCUbdcWWEbGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.Os9nVAZzqxp-Z3OYUCpAnmp9Enj87H1jHiyW8PxC7yw&qid=1718194880&sr=8-1 Audio-Documentary Series:“Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation” https://icjs.org/charismatic-revival-fury/

Could historical mis-readings of America's founding be helping fuel today's political polarization? What difference does it make what we believe about Thomas Jefferson's religious views or his attitude toward slavery? We talk with Warren Throckmorton, a psychologist, podcaster, and co-author of the book, Getting Jefferson Right: Fact-checking Claims About Our Third President. An interview with Warren Throckmorton.  Show Notes: The "Telling Jefferson Lies" podcast hosted by Dr. Throckmorton: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/telling-jefferson-lies/id1720424853 Book: Getting Jefferson Right by Warren Throckmorton and Michael Coulter https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Jefferson-Right-Fact-Checking-Claims/dp/0974670626/ Where to find Warren Throckmorton X: @wthrockmorton FB: https://www.facebook.com/wthrockmorton

Christian nationalism is often dismissed as a loose ideology—but what if it’s something far more organized? We talk with a journalist who has spent more than a decade investigating individuals and groups working to reshape the relationship between faith and power in American politics. This episode was recorded on Nov 25, 2025. --- Explore More Book | Katherine Stewart, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy (Bloomsbury, 2025). https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/money-lies-and-god-9781635578546/ Article | Jennifer Woods, "Book Review: Burning Down the House," Liberty, March/April 2025. https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/burning-down-the-house Website | Katherine Stewart https://katherinestewart.me  --- Katherine Stewart, journalist and author BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/katherinestewart.bsky.social Substack: https://substack.com/@katherinestewartbooks

What happens when the Supreme Court expands religious free exercise but sidelines the establishment clause? We talk with a veteran First Amendment advocate about rulings that have tilted the balance between the First Amendment religion clauses—and why that shift threatens genuine religious liberty.  This episode was recorded on Nov 24, 2025. --- Explore More Article | "Disrupted Symmetry," by Steven K. Green Liberty, Nov/Dec 2023.  https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/disrupted-symmetry Article | "A Step Too Far" by Nicholas Miller and Alan Reinach, Liberty, Jan/Feb 2023. https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/a-step-too-far Book | Why the Religious Right Is Wrong About Separation of Church and State by Rob Boston (Prometheus, 2003). https://www.amazon.com/Religious-Right-Wrong-Separation-Church/dp/1591021146  --- Guest: Rob Boston, Senior Advisor, Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Based in the small town of Moscow, Idaho, the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches is quietly reshaping national debates about faith and power. In this episode, we trace the CREC’s origins, its ties to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and how a relatively small network of churches is influencing evangelical views on masculinity, education, and America’s founding. This episode was recorded on Nov 24, 2025. --- Explore More Article | "What is CREC?" The Conversation, June 20, 2025. https://theconversation.com/what-is-crec-the-christian-nationalist-group-has-a-vision-for-america-and-defense-secretary-pete-hegseths-support-258273  Article | "Doug Wilson: The New Right's Favorite Pastor," by Ian Ward, Politico, April 23, 2025. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/05/23/doug-wilson-new-right-pastor-hegseth-trump-officials-00355376 

The Seven Mountains Mandate calls for Christians to “take back” culture by capturing the pillars of power—government, media, education, and more. But when faith becomes a strategy for control, what happens to freedom, pluralism, and democracy itself? Show Notes Book | The Seven Mountains Mandate, by Matthew Boedy. https://www.wjkbooks.com/bookproduct/0664269214-the-seven-mountains-mandate/ Website | Matthew Boedy https://www.matthewboedy.com *** Guest: Matthew Boedy, Author and Professor of Rhetoric, University of North Georgia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorBoedy  

As artificial intelligence becomes more personal—and more powerful—it’s reshaping not just how we live, but how we understand what it means to be human. With the growing influence of algorithms on our moral and spiritual perceptions, how can faith communities respond, resist, and reimagine their place in an AI-shaped world? Show Notes Article | "Being Human," Liberty magazine (November-December 2025) https://www.libertymagazine.org Website |  Future of Life Institute https://futureoflife.org  *** Guest: William Jones, Associate, Future of Life Institute Twitter/X: @FutureOfLife YouTube: @futureoflifeinstitute

Across the country, new laws are inviting religion back into America’s classrooms—reviving old debates about prayer, scripture, and the separation of church and state. The Supreme Court’s recent shift in interpreting the First Amendment has opened the door to sweeping change, reshaping how faith and freedom coexist in public education. What’s at stake for schools, students, and the future of religious liberty in a pluralistic democracy? Show Notes Article | "3 states push to put the Ten Commandments back in school" by Charles J. Russo and Lydia Artz, The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/3-states-push-to-put-the-ten-commandments-back-in-school-banking-on-new-guidance-at-the-supreme-court-264423 Article |  "Old Fights, New Fire in America's Classrooms" by Charles J. Russo and Lydia Artz, Liberty magazine.https://www.libertymagazine.org//author/entry/charles-j-russo *** Guest: Charles Russo, Professor of Law, Dayton University  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-russo-89849b7/  

Long before America split into red and blue, it was divided by the visions of Hamilton and Jefferson. Their battle over power, liberty, and virtue helped define the nation’s character—and still shapes its conflicts today. This episode explores what their enduring feud reveals about democracy, leadership, and the fragile art of self-government. Show Notes Book | The Pursuit of Liberty by Jeffrey Rosen. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Pursuit-of-Liberty/Jeffrey-Rosen/9781668053744  Website |  National Constitution Center https://constitutioncenter.org  Podcast | We the People https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-the-people/id83213431  *** Guest:  Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-rosen-1158829b/ YouTube, Insta, FB, X for National Constitution Center: @ConstitutionCtr   

Does government support for religion strengthen it—or weaken it? New global research reveals counterintuitive consequences for both the favored faith and minority religions. What can these findings teach Americans as they navigate debates over how government should interact with majority Christianity? Show Notes Article | Dan Koev, "What Can Ceasar Render Unto God?" Liberty magazine, September/October 2025. https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/what-can-caesar-render-unto-god  Website | https://dankoev.carrd.co  *** Dan Koev, Department Chair; Professor, Government & Criminal Justice, Regent University. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-koev-59526263/  Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/dankoev.bsky.social 

The Religious Liberty Commission, created by President Trump, has been hailed as a bold effort to protect faith. Whose voices are represented and is this body presenting a balanced view of America's constitutional, cultural, and religious heritage? This episode dives into the Commission’s hearings so far, and asks the question: how could its work shape the legal and policy landscape around religious liberty in coming years? Show Notes Website | Religious Liberty Commission/Department of Justice  https://www.justice.gov/religious-liberty-commission  Website | Liberty magazine https://www.libertymagazine.org/  *** Melissa Reid, associate director, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America FB, Insta, YouTube: @NADReligiousLiberty

Should churches endorse political candidates from the pulpit? For decades, the Johnson Amendment has drawn a legal line: churches can speak prophetically on justice and policy, but they can’t back individual candidates. Critics call it censorship. Supporters say it protects the mission of faith communities from partisan capture. In this episode of Just Liberty, we explore what’s at stake for both churches and democracy if that boundary disappears. Show Notes Article | Chris Butler, "Yes to Politics in the Pulpit, No to Endorsements," Christianity Today, July 15, 2025. https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/07/church-politics-endorse-candidate-pulpit-irs/ Article | "Divine Endorsements," Liberty magazine, September/October 2025.  https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/divine-endorsements  Website | AND Campaign https://www.andcampaign.org  *** Chris Butler, Senior Pastor, Ambassador Church, Chicago, and Director of Christian Civic Formation at the Center for Christianity and Public Life. FB: https://www.facebook.com/pastorchrisbutler X: @Christhecitizen

International religious freedom is under pressure worldwide—and U.S. leadership is wavering. Knox Thames, veteran advocate and author of Ending Persecution, joins Just Liberty to discuss urgent global crises, the limits of traditional diplomacy, and practical strategies to reinvigorate the movement for conscience rights. Show Notes Book | Ending Persecution: Charting the Path to Global Religious Freedom by Knox Thames. https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268208677/ending-persecution/ Website | https://www.knoxthames.com Article | Knox Thames, "Sacred sites as a new way to advance pluralism and human rights," Open Global Rights, April 7, 2025.  https://www.openglobalrights.org/sacred-sites-as-a-new-way-to-advance-pluralism-and-human-rights/  **** Knox Thames, Senior Fellow at Pepperdine University X: @KnoxThames Linked: https://www.linkedin.com/in/knox-thames-7b46193/