As usual, George Saunders has both wise and funny things to say about AI in writing. Pertinent to the struggle for us writing teachers. Sigh. on.substack.com/p/model-beha...

Model Behavior: George Saunders

“Of course, if AI can cure cancer, bravo. I’m all for it. But even with cancer cured, death will still arrive somehow.”

on.substack.com

"In short, defeat of white Christian nationalism at the hands of a diverse political electorate that includes millions of faithful Christians would be transformative for Democrats, democracy, and American Christianity. What a fitting rebuke to white Christian nationalism that would be."

The Contrarian@contrariannews.org · 2w ago

"It turns out that Americans believe in religious freedom, diversity, and democracy, not racist theocracy."

Proofreading the galleys for *Refugia Church* and examining these splendid illustrations by @gabrielleeisma to check for consistency in layout. Come for the inspiration to do more for climate justice; stay for the beavers and goats. Available for purchase in a few months! @fortresspress.bsky.social

OMG the final cover design is ready and it's.... gorgeous! Many thanks to @fortresspress.bsky.social for creating this perfect invitation to *Refugia Church*, forthcoming in the spring. Calling all churches who want to do more for the earth: this book is for you!

A politics-heavy issue, but important stuff leading up to the midterms. Yes, good news included. refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Refugia Newsletter #128

Midterm elections, climate voting, protecting wind deals and endangered species, UN climate report, urban greening in Athens, and a mini book review

refugianewsletter.substack.com

Some good climate- and energy-related reading for you. This week: an overview of all the things. Quick way to get caught up! refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Refugia Newsletter #127

Communication savvy, ocean heat, new climate scenarios, so many legal and clean energy wins, solar as solution, religion and the world order, election season resources, oat milk, and river resilience

refugianewsletter.substack.com

Come for the climate news, stay for the photos of pollinators and one very, very aggressive set of bean and gourd plants. refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Refugia Newsletter #126

Super El Niño, state of the climate, AI ❤️s Big Oil, New Mexico energy wins, EV sales, IRA persistence, financial wins, Utrecht greenery, and a quarry brought to life

refugianewsletter.substack.com

www.theguardian.com/books/ng-int...

‘I hate what AI is doing to the minds and happiness of the young’: Katherine Rundell on the view from the classroom

Education is at a crossroads, argues the author and academic. Should we embrace new technology in the name of efficiency, or is it time to fight back?

theguardian.com

My favorite part of this week's newsletter: a singles group in Minneapolis focused on buckthorn removal. Also, there's an extinct beaver in here. refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Refugia Newsletter #125

Legal battles, clean energy milestones, battery tech explained, Yellowstone-to-Yukon conservation, Minnesota adventures, and one very large extinct beaver.

refugianewsletter.substack.com

Why all the nonsense about blaming Canada for poor forest management? Fossil fuel money pays for deceptive political theater. The fabulous @emorwee.bsky.social brings the receipts. Should have included this piece in my last newsletter. heated.world/p/the-fossil...

The fossil fuel money behind the GOP’s wildfire blame game

As smoke from Canadian wildfires chokes the United States, Republicans are blaming everyone but the industry heating the planet. Guess why?

heated.world

Some helpful explainers today on Canadian wildfires and data centers. Plus "beehive microgrids"--which are not about the little buzzy creatures at all. However, real bees do appear in this issue. (Also yellowjackets--ugh!) refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Refugia Newsletter #124

Canadian wildfires, heat wave myths, African solar growth, sodium-ion batteries, data center backlash, public opinion on climate, interfaith action, indigenous stewardship, and beehive microgrids

refugianewsletter.substack.com

"Democrats can walk the affordability walk and chew the climate/clean air gum at the same time." A small but important point in @sammyroth.bsky.social's latest post on the health benefits of moving from gas stoves to induction. www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/electric-s...

Researchers used electric stoves to treat asthma. It worked.

The latest evidence that gas is bad for your health.

climatecoloredgoggles.com

It's still amazing to me how many people in the US still aren't quite getting the memo on this. Not just policymakers, ordinary folks. Spread the word!

Dr Adam Levy@climateadam.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Sorry Donald. www.bbc.com/news/science...

Wondering how to connect faith and your voting decisions in this fraught moment? Join us Third Act Faith for the first in a terrific series! It's freeeeee!

"You cannot do right by the past without knowing how strange it is." --Shakespeare scholar Sean Keilen on the Shakespeare Unlimited podcast from @folger.edu. (Love this podcast!)

If you make it to the end of today's newsletter, you can read my up-to-date "bee report" from a visit to my university's beehives. Yes, there's a photo of me in beekeeping gear. Only two bee puns, I promise. refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Refugia Newsletter #123

Global heat monitoring, fossil fuel deceptions, carbon capture, a humming green economy, Reflecting Pool wetland, NYC urban forests, native gardens, the Kew plant/fungi database, and a honeybee haven

refugianewsletter.substack.com

So many horrid things in the world, but we've still got geeky scholars doing amazing things. This is just... super cool. Reading charred ancient scrolls without unwrapping them? Awesome. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcTn...

Ancient scrolls unread for 2,000 years revealed with AI

YouTube video by NBC News

youtube.com

Just turned in a book manuscript. What do I do now? I've spent the morning puttering about. I bought new socks. Answered a few emails. Dreamed of new bookshelves to tidy the mess I made in my home office. Drank tea. Now what??

Whatever your feelings today, Miss Petunia's got it handled. reformedjournal.com/2026/07/04/p...

Part 2 of this very fun podcast episode from @circlewoodearth.bsky.social in which James Amadon and I got to interview @billmckibben.bsky.social in a rain storm (you can hear it!).

Circlewood@circlewoodearth.bsky.social · 3mo ago

NEW EP: @billmckibben.bsky.social shares insights on climate change, renewable energy, and the role of faith communities in fostering change. Discover practical solutions, spiritual perspectives, and stories that motivate collective action for a sustainable future. www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUIF...

Offering you a taste of July 4 weekend in Michigan.

Yep. Fits with experience. We're all worried and no one talks about it. Research has shown the same phenomenon in churches. Clergy and congregants both worried, but don't think anyone else is. Silence ensues.

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · 4mo ago

This is REALLY important. “Over 50% of Americans say climate change is a serious threat; only 10% think their compatriots feel the same That perception gap on the issue is among the highest in the world, per a new Gallup poll.” They want you to think you’re alone. You’re not. #ClimateCrisis

Excellent review of Yesteryear by my friend religion writer Jana Riess. Jana's take: the book is spot-on in calling out shallow American evangelicalism. religionnews.com/2026/06/29/y...

'Yesteryear,' a tradwife satire, understands Christianity better than most Americans

(RNS) — The new bestseller has been criticized for having a shallow understanding of religion. I disagree. 'Yesteryear' depicts how shallow American religion has actually become.

religionnews.com

You know, I thought I had seen it all when it comes to Shakespeariana, but... Shakespeare Barbies??? (They're from 2004. Those were the days, I guess?) www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

Shakespeare in a Barbie world | Folger Shakespeare Library

Folger Shakespeare Library is the world's largest Shakespeare collection, the ultimate resource for exploring Shakespeare and his world. Shakespeare belongs to you. His world is vast. Come explore. Jo...

folger.edu

And here I thought faith was a strong motivation for people to engage in climate action. But look: it's waaay down there among motivations. One of many cautionary and illuminating insights from the new Potential Energy Coalition research report.

Classic refugia-building, courtesy of Pope Francis's inspiration.

Eoghan Daltun 🌍@irishrainforest.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Some good news: church grounds and graveyards across Ireland are becoming havens for birds, bees and bats as part of a biodiversity project inspired by Pope Francis. www.rte.ie/news/regiona...

OK, this is fun.

Raider@iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social · 4mo ago

"Team algae" 🤣

Good news follow-up from my last newsletter: ocean monitoring will remain. This is what happens when Congress does it job. Bad ideas get shut down. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/c...

Trump Administration Backs Off Plan to End Ocean Monitoring

nytimes.com

If you missed Hug a Climate Scientist Day (June 12), there's still time. This week, I offer a few reasons these people need hugs. Also, as usual, some beavers. refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Refugia Newsletter #121

Papal encyclical, data centers, dismantling of science, guns to plowshares, beavers, Konik ponies, and one determined gourd

refugianewsletter.substack.com

Really appreciate my friend @jim-stump.bsky.social's cheeky and wise reflection on the Pope's new encyclical on AI: "We become certain kinds of people by doing the slow, inefficient, tender things. We ourselves are formed as mature humans by acts of care." jimstump.substack.com/p/babel-vers...

Babel versus Nehemiah

A cheeky reflection on the Pope’s AI encyclical

jimstump.substack.com