Just Politics

As Medicaid faces severe cuts in the federal budget that will take health care away from millions of people, Laura Peralta-Schulte, head of NETWORK's government relations team, discusses the life-saving importance of the program for its 60th anniversary. The program, which emerged as part of President Lyndon Johnson's efforts to help people in the United States not just survive but thrive and which expanded greatly under the health care reforms under President Barack Obama, is now under serious threat. Peralta-Schulte discusses why this is not just a matter of policy for Catholics, but a human right under Catholic teaching, as well as an echo of Jesus' healing mission. By this standard, cuts that will take away health care from over 10 million people over the next decade are a moral failure of a very high degree. She calls on all justice-seekers of all background to join NETWORK in the legislative push to roll back these immoral tax cuts and restore health coverage to millions of people who rely on the saving care made available to them by Medicaid. Join in the work of promoting Catholic Social Justice in federal policy by becoming a member of NETWORK.

This week on Just Politics, hosts Eilis and Colin welcome Laurie Carafone, NETWORK's new executive director. She comes to the world of Catholic social justice advocacy from Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), where she worked to protect unaccompanied children and advocate for their asylum. Carafone's path began with a formative year working with an asylum attorney, where she witnessed the life-and-death stakes facing asylum seekers. After law school at the University of Michigan and a masters degree in theological studies from Harvard Divinity School, she spent over a decade at KIND, ultimately leading their U.S. legal programs. She was drawn to NETWORK, she says, by the organization's origin story of 47 sisters recognizing that federal policy could create a scaled positive impact, as well as NETWORK's commitment to coalition building.  She takes on the role of executive director at a perilous time in U.S. politics, especially regarding the treatment of immigrants. Recorded during just her second week on the job, this conversation offers insights into NETWORK's new leadership as we enter an exciting new chapter of advocacy work. LINKS: NETWORK welcomes Laurie Carafone as new executive director https://networklobby.org/news/7725-carafone-ed/  

This week on Just Politics, host Joan Neal returns to the interview chair for something that is becoming less and less common: an honest political conversation with someone who has strongly different views. Joan interviews prominent political figure and former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, who currently serves as an MSNBC political analyst. This episode highlights the diversity within the Catholic world on political issues: Both Neal and Steele are Black Catholics with similar backgrounds who have nevertheless arrived at vastly different perspectives on government, economics, and Catholic social teaching.  Steele shares his personal journey navigating the often tumultuous landscape, where belief systems and political ideologies collide, and explains how his Catholic faith has shaped his political career, influenced his decisions, and guided him through challenges. Despite stark differences, both engage in constructive dialogue, demonstrating that meaningful conversation across political divides remains possible. As Joan notes, "We will never move forward on our vision of establishing a more perfect union until we can move past this extreme division." Join us for this insightful conversation that explores the power of conviction and the role of faith in shaping political landscapes, offering practical wisdom for navigating our polarized moment.   LINKS:  https://networklobby.org/economy-for-all-agenda/  

This week on Just Politics, Giovana Oaxaca, the senior government relations advocate for immigration with NETWORK, joins hosts Colin and Eilis to discuss the escalating immigration crisis facing communities nationwide. This episode was recorded in the immediate aftermath of the budget reconciliation bill's passage, which Oaxaca calls a "deportation bill," one that will also decimate the social safety net programs many people rely on. The conversation tackles harsh realities, from detention camps in the Florida Everglades to terrorizing enforcement raids in Los Angeles. But Oaxaca also highlights stories of hope: organizers building solidarity in unlikely places, pastors providing sanctuary, and transformative conversations across political divides. Inspired by Pope Leo XIV's call to be "leaven of unity in a fractured world," Oaxaca challenges us to move beyond fear toward authentic engagement, emphasizing finding common ground through shared values of human dignity.   LINKS:  https://networklobby.org/issues/immigration/  https://networklobby.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/An-Economy-for-All-One-pager.pdf   

This week on Just Politics, Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould—political director at Faith in Action—joins us to talk about her journey from corporate America to the front lines of faith-based justice work. Rooted in her family's legacy of civil rights activism, Gould reflects on how her childhood in Alabama and Missouri shaped her understanding of racial injustice, poverty, and power. She shares how her experience in finance led her to see the devastating impact of deregulation and predatory lending on working-class communities and why she couldn't stay silent. In this conversation, she challenges faith leaders to "come off mute" and speak truth to power, moving beyond charity to working for real structural change. The hosts and Gould talk about grassroots organizing, how policy decisions affect people's daily lives, and what it means to build spiritual practices that sustain long-term activism. The discussion concludes with a call to action for individuals disrupt the silence surrounding social injustices.  LINKS:  https://faithinaction.org/  https://www.networkadvocates.org/#!   

This week on Just Politics, the hosts revisit a powerful conversation from last season that feels more urgent than ever. Kristen Whitney Daniels—a disability advocate, diabetes educator, and associate director of the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph—joins us to talk about the moral and social consequences of stripping people of access to health care. As budget negotiations in Washington put Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act on the chopping block, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that, by 2034, millions of people across the country risk losing the coverage that keeps them and their families secure. In this episode, Whitney Daniels shares her personal experience navigating a complicated health care system with chronic illness and reflects on why Catholics and other people of faith must demand a system rooted in dignity, justice, and the common good. LINKS:  Report on how many people risk losing their health insurance under the budget reconciliation bill: https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/06/29/congressional-budget-office-confirms-senate-republican-reconciliation-bills-medicaid-cuts-are-more-draconian-than-the-house-passed-bill/ More on Kristen Whitney Daniels: https://cssjfed.org/about-us/staff-and-leadership/ NETWORK's issue page on health care advocacy: https://www.networkadvocates.org/issues/health-care/  

This episode of Just Politics sounds a little different—and that's the point. Rather than diving into our usual policy discussion, hosts Colin and Eilis pass the mic to a group of young men wrestling with one of the most pervasive forces shaping our political and cultural moment: toxic masculinity. These college students are all part of NETWORK's Carroll Coston Fellowship, a leadership program named after Sister Carol Coston, one of NETWORK's founding sisters and its first executive director. Together, they explore what it means to be a man in 2025, especially in the wake of the 2024 election, where the "manosphere" made headlines and MAGA bravado showed up in force on college campuses. These young leaders speak candidly about gender norms they've inherited, what they've had to unlearn, and how they're trying to show up differently not just for themselves, but for the people around them. You'll hear from: Steven, a student at Barry University in South Florida, reflecting on faith and masculinity in a culturally complex environment JC, a student from Atlanta studying in rural Pennsylvania, who talks about online influence and its impact on young Black men Ben, who grew up in Kentucky and shares his evolving understanding of privilege, power, and accountability Jack, a social work student offering a powerful reflection on "collectivist masculinity" Jonathan, a business student at Marquette learning to speak up as one of the only students of color in the room Aaron, an international student athlete from Canada who reflects on masculinity in immigrant households and team culture The conversation closes with where they're finding hope and what examples of healthy, authentic masculinity they're carrying with them into the future. Whether you're a parent, teacher, organizer, or someone thinking about how culture is shaping politics, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. LINKS:  https://uscatholic.org/articles/202505/how-a-faulty-vision-of-christian-masculinity-harms-us-all/ https://uscatholic.org/articles/202505/toxic-masculinity-clashes-with-actual-catholic-teaching/ https://www.networkadvocates.org/vote-our-future/yall/   

What does it mean to belong to a church—and a country—that doesn't always welcome you? In this episode, Colin Martinez Longmore sits down with Yunuen Trujillo for an open conversation about identity, faith, fear, and belonging. Trujillo is an immigration attorney, LGBTQ+ Catholic advocate, and lay minister. As an immigrant and a queer person who is both a practicing immigration lawyer and faithful Catholic, she shares her perspective on the emotional toll our current political moment takes on communities and individuals and what it takes to create spaces of healing and justice when institutions are often part of the harm. Trujillo speaks to the fear that is often manufactured and weaponized by political leaders and the way that fear can infiltrate even faith communities, turning people against one another rather than toward solidarity. But she also shares her commitment to a hope rooted in community, resistance, and a belief that change is possible, even within institutions that feel resistant to it. This episode explores her involvement with LGBTQ+ Catholic ministry, including her work in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and her founding of @lgbtcatholics Instagram page, a grassroots effort to build inclusive Catholic communities. She also highlights the essential role of allies, especially parents and grandparents, in shifting the church from within. Whether you're navigating your own place within religious or political systems or simply seeking to be a better ally and community builder, this episode offers clarity, strength, and the reminder that hope is not naive—it's necessary. For more on supporting immigrant communities and LGBTQ+ Catholics: An immigration attorney on the Los Angeles protests https://uscatholic.org/articles/202506/immigration-attorney-los-angeles-protests/ Yes, pride is a sin. But it's also a virtue. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202408/yes-pride-is-a-sin-but-its-also-a-virtue/ All love enriches our church https://uscatholic.org/articles/202403/all-love-enriches-our-church/ Solidarity with immigrants: How Catholics can stand up https://uscatholic.org/articles/2023/solidarity-with-immigrants-how-catholics-can-stand-up/  LGBTQ+ Catholics: A Guide to Inclusive Ministry https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/5577-4/lgbtq-catholics.aspx  @lgbtcatholics on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lgbtcatholics/?hl=en   

What do you get when 800 billionaires hoard more wealth than half the U.S. population combined? A rigged tax system and a society that leaves millions behind. In this episode, longtime tax and budget expert Sarah Christopherson joins us to expose the political and moral cost of extreme wealth inequality. She explains how billionaires use loopholes, lobbying, and misleading populist messaging to avoid paying taxes and how those choices fuel poverty, hunger, housing shortages, and underfunded schools. We also explore why promises like "no tax on tips" often do more harm than good and how slick messaging masks a dangerous reality: Tax cuts for the rich are often paid for by service cuts for the rest of us. Alongside Sarah, we're joined by Jarrett Smith, Senior Tax Lobbyist at NETWORK, who adds key context on upcoming legislation, policy threats, and what advocates need to know right now. If you've ever wondered why billionaires pay less in taxes than you—or why it feels like everything is underfunded except for corporations—this conversation is for you. Learn more and take action at networklobby.org. Follow us @NETWORKLobby on social media and join the movement for tax justice. To learn more: Sarah Christopherson's website: https://www.scgchristopherson.com/  Tax Justice Calculator: https://networklobby.org/taxjusticecalculator/ Patriotic Millionaires: https://patrioticmillionaires.org/ Families over Billionaires: https://www.familiesoverbillionaires.org/   

During a time when ICE raids tear families apart, current administration policies criminalize asylum seekers, and cruelty has become policy, how do people of faith respond? This is the question we ask in this episode of Just Politics. Our guest is Sister of St. Joseph Janet Kinney, the executive director of the Long Island Immigration Clinic, whose ministry with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood has become a lifeline for immigrants and asylum seekers facing increasingly hostile conditions. From the rise of authoritarian immigration policies to the alarming normalization of deportations and detention centers, Kinney doesn't flinch. She shares how the Clinic stands firm, offering accompaniment and legal support even when the political tides are brutal. Kinney also reflects on the shifting landscape of immigration in the United States—from rising fear in immigrant communities to the moral failures of our current political leadership—and how her team provides legal support, safety planning, and community-building to those who need it most. What makes this conversation powerful isn't just Kinney's honesty about the stakes; it's her unshakable commitment to hope. We talk about where she finds it, how she sustains it, and why Catholic social teaching demands both prayer and action. This episode is a reminder that bravery is contagious and that even when the horrors persist, so do we.  

Tune in on June 3rd, 2025 for the return of your favorite Catholic social justice podcast: Just Politics, a project of NETWORK Lobby and U.S. Catholic magazine.

"Well, what a summer it's been!" says Joan Neal at the start of this week's episode. And August only just began!   The past few weeks have been a whirlwind in U.S. politics. A shooting targeting former president Trump left many injured and two people, including the shooter, dead. Coming off a debate performance that raised concerns about his age, President Biden withdrew his bid for reelection and quickly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman in U.S. history to be the presumptive nominee of a major party. And just this past week, Harris selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate—with only 85 days left until the 2024 election.   To make sense of all this, Laura Peralta-Schulte joins Just Politics this week. Peralta-Schulte is the senior director of public policy and government relations at NETWORK.  "While the media likes to focus on the horse races ... what we're really talking about is who is going to represent us that will pass paid leave, make sure kids are not hungry, make sure that everybody has access to affordable healthcare," Peralta-Schulte says. Sometimes, hearing from policy wonks can leave us feeling like things are actually worse than we thought. But Peralta-Schulte offers a hopeful read of this election season, pointing to the many people already engaging with energy, inspiration, and solidarity. "It's not Pentecost," she says, "but it seems like it sometimes when you have folks going to their parishes and doing voter education and voter registration in places like Cleveland."  Peralta-Schulte points to NETWORK's online resources and tools that anyone can use to get informed on the issues, find voter registration and polling place information, and take action. And she offers an invitation to NETWORK's Nuns on the Bus & Friends tour, hitting the road this fall.   Learn more about what's going on, what you can do, and why we remain hopeful and engaged on this week's episode of the Just Politics podcast.   NETWORK Advocates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing the principles of Catholic social justice and does not endorse or oppose any candidate or party in the upcoming election. Additional Resources:   NETWORK's 2024 Election Resource Page  http://networkadvocates.org/be-a-voter  NETWORK's Equally Sacred Checklist  https://networkadvocates.org/equally-sacred-multi-issue-voter-checklist/  Nuns on the Bus & Friends "Vote Our Future" Tour  http://nunsonthebus.org/   

In 2023, after receiving a transformational gift from the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice was finally able to begin working on an issue they'd been feeling called to for a long time: climate justice. That gift came to fruition a few months ago with the hiring of a full-time climate lobbyist: Drake Starling, a Cuban-American Miami native with a background in international environmental law. Having worked in a global context, Starling is clear on the urgency of transitioning away from fossil fuels. "If your bathtub is overflowing, you're not going to get a mop," he says. "Transitioning away from fossil fuels is turning off the bathroom spigot." Drake joins his colleagues on this episode of Just Politics to share more about his own story and Catholic social justice commitments, the biggest challenges and possibilities he sees in climate advocacy, and what gives him hope in the work to save the planet. For starters, he says, we should "try to start making everyone aware that climate change legislation equals good jobs." NETWORK Advocates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing the principles of Catholic social justice and does not endorse or oppose any candidate or party in the upcoming election. Learn more on this week's episode of Just Politics. Additional resources: NETWORK's Equally Sacred Issues: Freedom to Live on a Healthy Planet https://www.nunsonthebus.org/equally-sacred/freedom-to-live-on-a-healthy-planet/  Learn more about the Inflation Reduction Act's climate provisions https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act  Read about FSPA's gift to NETWORK for Climate Justice Work https://networklobby.org/news/fspa-climate-gift/  Learn more about "Cancer Alley" https://www.propublica.org/article/welcome-to-cancer-alley-where-toxic-air-is-about-to-get-worse   

When it comes to people organizing to stop gun violence, you probably first think of moms (see Moms Demand Action). But there is another growing unified voice against gun violence and the policies that enable it—that of Catholic nuns.   Last year, communities of Catholic sisters and their partners formed Nuns Against Gun Violence to educate about, pray for, and advocate for policies that free us from the threat of gun violence—and to accompany communities ravaged by it.   In this episode, two members of Nuns Against Gun Violence join us on Just Politics. Lisa Cathelyn is the justice and peace coordinator for the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and Sister of St. Joseph Annette McDermott is the justice, peace, and integrity of creation coordinator for her community and a member of the Nuns Against Gun Violence steering committee.  "There was a real concern that the issue of gun violence was escalating," McDermott says. "And I'd have to say, honestly, there was a part where I don't think one of us could hear once again, 'We're sending you our thoughts and prayers.' What could we do?"  Since its formation, Nuns Against Gun Violence has led educational webinars, candlelight vigils, billboard ads, legislative advocacy efforts, and more.   "We must care for communities to prevent harm, we must hold people accountable for their actions, and we must also work and have public policy that promotes the common good," Cathelyn says.   Many people across the country feel like they hear of a new mass shooting each time they turn on the news. "Gun violence is a public health crisis. No one is unaffected by it," Cathelyn says. But, she says, Nuns Against Gun Violence seeks to offer hope and action for a better reality. "We reject the toxic idols of violence, of weapons, and we announce something different," she says.  Learn more about protecting our freedom to live in safe communities on this week's episode of the Just Politics podcast.  Note: NETWORK Advocates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing the principles of Catholic social justice and does not endorse or oppose any candidate or party in the upcoming election. Additional resources:   Nuns Against Gun Violence  https://nunsagainstgunviolence.org/  Gun Violence Archive  https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/  NETWORK's Equally Sacred Resources – Freedom from Harm  https://www.nunsonthebus.org/equally-sacred/freedom-from-harm/  Moms Demand Action  https://momsdemandaction.org/   

The freedom to be healthy means being able to access the care and medications we need without worrying or sacrificing other parts of our lives. For people with diabetes, who need insulin to make it through the day alive, that freedom is a daily struggle. Though insulin costs just a few dollars to make, it has been sold for more than $300 per vial.   Kristen Whitney Daniels, who serves as the associate director of the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Brentwood, New York, is also a Type 1 diabetic and a leader with T1 International's federal working group, advocating for affordable and equitable access to insulin. She knows firsthand what it's like to have to ration insulin—and how just health care policies can transform people's everyday lives.   "The American public in general is facing these high costs that are forcing them to make decisions between food, going to college, getting a car, what jobs to work…" Daniels says. "I'm really passionate about making sure that people have the freedom to be healthy."  Health care advocates like Daniels know that movements are sustained by celebrating successes like the Affordable Care Act, which NETWORK helped to pass, and the recent cap on insulin costs for seniors instituted by the Inflation Reduction Act, led by the Biden administration. But Daniels explains that successes aren't just winning on policy—they also include bringing new people to the table and spreading the message in new ways.  Listen to this week's episode to learn more about advocating for our freedom to be healthy.  Also: The nuns—and friends—are going back on the bus this year! Daniels will be joining NETWORK as a rider on the 2024 Nuns on the Bus & Friends Vote Our Future tour this fall. Learn more here at nunsonthebus.org.   Additional Resources:  The Inflation Reduction Act's insulin cost caps  https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-2022/medicare-budget-proposal.html  Kristen Whitney Daniels  https://cssjfed.org/about-us/staff-and-leadership/  T1 International Federal Working Group  https://www.t1international.com/FWG/  Nuns On the Bus & Friends http://nunsonthebus.org/  

Just Politics will be taking a brief summer break this week. In the meantime, please be sure to catch up on all the episodes from the first half of season four: 1: Let us count the freedoms (with Katherine Stewart and Mary J. Novak) https://uscatholic.org/articles/202406/just-politics-let-us-count-the-freedoms/ 2: We can demand something better (with Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman) https://uscatholic.org/articles/202406/just-politics-we-can-demand-something-better/  3: The harm of a false witness (with Jim Wallis) https://uscatholic.org/articles/202406/just-politics-the-harm-of-a-false-witness/ 4: Hey Y.A.L.L., let's save democracy (with Chelsea Puckett and Baylee Fingerhut) https://uscatholic.org/articles/202407/just-politics-hey-y-a-l-l-lets-save-democracy/ 5: Why harming the border harms us all (with Jesús de la Torre) https://uscatholic.org/articles/202407/just-politics-why-harming-the-border-harms-us-all/   

When people in the United States think about immigration, many immediately think about the U.S.-Mexico border, cruel border policies, and desperate families fleeing violence. But as Jesús de la Torre of Hope Border Institute shares in this episode, immigration is about so much more—including freedom, good food, global solidarity, and especially dreams. What if our immigration system wasn't just built around human rights and human dignity, but also human dreams?   "All of us, we have desires. We aspire to be. We want to study. We want to work. We want to learn. We want to discover," de la Torre says. "We need to design a system that is focused on people's dreams and aspirations ... that then that will benefit everyone." De la Torre draws on Catholic social teaching—and the words of Pope Francis—to help us understand that making our country more welcoming for immigrants makes the country more welcoming for everyone. "If we encounter people [at the border] with mercy and we allow each other to share that vulnerability, those fears, those hopes, I think will become much more humane and much more human," he says.   Join us as we learn more about de la Torre's experiences at the border, his policy ideas, and how Catholics can help build vibrant, culturally-rich communities of welcome. NETWORK Advocates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing the principles of Catholic social justice and does not endorse or oppose any candidate or party in the upcoming election.  Additional resources  UPDATE: After recording his interview with Just Politics, Jesús was named assistant director for global migration at Hope Border Institute: https://twitter.com/JesussdelaTorre/status/1808139940183552488  Hope Border Institute https://www.hopeborder.org/   An article by Jesús de la Torre https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/moment-renewal-churchs-accompaniment-migrants   From a recent issue of NETWORK's Connection magazine, on the DACA program: https://networklobby.org/connection-dreams-of-inclusion-061124/   The U.S. bishops' 2003 pastoral letter on immigration, "Strangers No Longer": https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/immigration/strangers-no-longer-together-on-the-journey-of-hope   

College students today have grown up through a recession, a pandemic, and an unprecedented era of digitalization and political upheaval. They are also now part of the largest voting bloc in the country, composed of Millennial and Gen Z voters.   Young people have tremendous electoral power, but are often unequipped to engage in our democratic processes. In an era awash in information (and disinformation), how can young people channel their energy around justice into actionable change?   That's where NETWORK's new Young Advocates Leadership Lab (Y.A.L.L.) comes in.   This week on the Just Politics podcast, our hosts are joined by Chelsea Puckett, NETWORK's Grassroots Mobilization Outreach and Education Specialist. Chelsea is leading the inaugural year of Y.A.L.L., working to equip college students with the tools they need to be multi-issue voters, to energize and register their classmates to vote, and to speak about the issues they care about.    One of those students in the inaugural cohort, Baylee Fingerhut, joins us this week as well. A student at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Fingerhut became committed to advocating for a more equitable health care system after her father's cancer diagnosis and will vote in a presidential election for the first time this year. About young voters like herself, she says, "I think we're all we're sparked up, we're fired up... we finally want to use our voices and use our ability to vote to uphold the things that we see are important."   Check out episode four of Just Politics to learn more about what college students are doing to build momentum for multi-issue voting ahead of the 2024 election (spoiler alert: it involves goats).   Additional resources:   Learn more about NETWORK's Young Advocates Leadership Lab (Y.A.L.L.): https://networkadvocates.org/yall/    NETWORK's statement on the first presidential debate: https://networklobby.org/news/62824-debate/  Tufts report on voting rates among Gen Z: https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/gen-z-voted-higher-rate-2022-previous-generations-their-first-midterm-election   

In 2024, white Christian nationalism continues to threaten our democracy and our freedoms—including our freedoms to vote, to practice our diverse religions, to live in safety, to protect and care for our families, and to live in a welcoming country.     There is no one more critical for the struggle against white Christian nationalism than Christians committed to democracy, justice, and human dignity—Christians such as Reverend Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners, founding director of the Georgetown Center for Faith and Justice, and author of a new book: The False White Gospel (St. Martin's).    Join us this week on the Just Politics podcast as Wallis takes us through how white Christian nationalism is entirely un-Christian—and how the notion of neighbor, as Jesus taught in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, is not limited to a certain race, religion, or country of origin (neither white, nor Christian, nor nationalist!) Rather, the question of "Who is my neighbor?"  is best answered by looking at who among us is most marginalized, other-ed, and in need.     Luckily, everyone in this country—not only people of faith—has the power to spark conversations in their communities about our core values and how they can be distorted and weaponized by powerful interests who try (and fail) to use religion to divide us.     Additional Resources    More on Jim Wallis https://sojo.net/biography/jim-wallis     NETWORK's White Supremacy and American Christianity series https://networklobby.org/actions-to-take-to-after-watching-white-supremacy-in-christianity/     Sojourners, A Call to Civic Discipleship https://sojo.net/civicdiscipleship     The False White Gospel https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250291899/thefalsewhitegospel     

What if every family in the United States had enough resources to afford secure housing, eat nourishing food, pay medical bills and childcare expenses, and spend quality time with their loved ones without the constant worry of financial stress?   This is exactly what U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey wants to make a reality with the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act. The concept of guaranteed income is a simple one: giving families income that they can use to meet their needs. Watson Coleman points to other universal basic income pilot programs that have worked across the country—and even how the federal government offered no-strings-attached supplemental income during the COVID-19 pandemic that lifted millions of individuals, families, and children out of poverty.    As Watson Coleman puts it in this week's episode of Just Politics, "I don't think that's too much to ask for in the richest country in the world."   Being able to take care of ourselves and our loved ones is foundational to what it means to live in a democracy where everyone can participate and live dignified lives. Join us this week to hear more from Watson Coleman about realizing our freedom to care for ourselves and our families and the importance of electing officials who will ensure that we share our abundant resources justly—so that everyone has what they need to thrive, no exceptions.   Additional Resources:  Read Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman in Connection magazine: https://networklobby.org/connection-rep-coleman-112823/   Learn more about the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act: https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watson-coleman-leads-introduction-of-guaranteed-income-pilot-program   NETWORK's Equally Sacred Checklist: https://networkadvocates.org/equally-sacred-multi-issue-voter-checklist/