As of last night, there are now *7* pastors, former pastors and seminarians who've become Democratic nominees running for Congress. Some have already won safe Dem seats, and several are in hotly contested races. In multiple cases, the GOP has attacked their faith. religionnews.com/2026/08/04/p...

'They're not real pastors': As clergy run as Democrats, Republicans question their faith

(RNS) — 'It's a sign that they are really scared they're gonna lose this seat,' the Rev. Sarah Trone Garriott, a Lutheran pastor running for Congress in Iowa, said. She is part of a wave of religious ...

religionnews.com

El-Sayed: "My commitment to Jewish safety is the same commitment that I have to the safety of my own daughters. Because if there is one question of political philosophy that ought to animate us all, it's what would we do if we treated all our kids like they were all of our kids?"

Via @apnews.com: Abdul El-Sayed has won Michigan’s Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate apnews.com/article/mich...

Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate primary in major victory for Democrats’ progressive wing

Abdul El-Sayed has won Michigan’s Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in a massive victory for the party’s progressive wing in a battleground state.

apnews.com

Fun fact: I just published the full story on this topic mere minutes ago. By my count, at least 12 pastors, seminarians & former clergy have launched campaigns for federal office this year, and 5 are already nominees. In response, the GOP is attacking their faith. religionnews.com/2026/08/04/p...

'They're not real pastors': As clergy run as Democrats, Republicans question their faith

(RNS) — 'It's a sign that they are really scared they're gonna lose this seat,' the Rev. Sarah Trone Garriott, a Lutheran pastor running for Congress in Iowa, said. She is part of a wave of religious ...

religionnews.com

Teddy Wilson@reportbywilson.bsky.social · 20h ago

Highly recommend listening to @jackjenkins.me in conversation with Dr. Amanda Henderson:

As of last night, there are now *7* pastors, former pastors and seminarians who've become Democratic nominees running for Congress. Some have already won safe Dem seats, and several are in hotly contested races. In multiple cases, the GOP has attacked their faith. religionnews.com/2026/08/04/p...

'They're not real pastors': As clergy run as Democrats, Republicans question their faith

(RNS) — 'It's a sign that they are really scared they're gonna lose this seat,' the Rev. Sarah Trone Garriott, a Lutheran pastor running for Congress in Iowa, said. She is part of a wave of religious ...

religionnews.com

Aaaaaaaand AP just called the Kansas U.S. Senate Democratic primary for Rev. Adam Hamilton, so now there is, indeed, six. Not surprising (he was breaking fundraising records), but notable all the same. (And possibly one more pastor nominee by night’s end — we’ll see.)

Jack Jenkins@jackjenkins.me · 20h ago

"Pastors in Name Only" "Wicked Witch of Woke" “I've never seen anyone commit so much blasphemy against the word of God." As pastors become Democratic nominees — at least 5 so far, and likely one more tonight — their Republican opponents are attacking their faith. religionnews.com/2026/08/04/p...

It’s not Friday but you should follow @jackjenkins.me if you aren’t already.

Jack Jenkins@jackjenkins.me · 20h ago

Fun fact: I just published the full story on this topic mere minutes ago. By my count, at least 12 pastors, seminarians & former clergy have launched campaigns for federal office this year, and 5 are already nominees. In response, the GOP is attacking their faith. religionnews.com/2026/08/04/p...

Fun fact: I just published the full story on this topic mere minutes ago. By my count, at least 12 pastors, seminarians & former clergy have launched campaigns for federal office this year, and 5 are already nominees. In response, the GOP is attacking their faith. religionnews.com/2026/08/04/p...

'They're not real pastors': As clergy run as Democrats, Republicans question their faith

(RNS) — 'It's a sign that they are really scared they're gonna lose this seat,' the Rev. Sarah Trone Garriott, a Lutheran pastor running for Congress in Iowa, said. She is part of a wave of religious ...

religionnews.com

Teddy Wilson@reportbywilson.bsky.social · 20h ago

Highly recommend listening to @jackjenkins.me in conversation with Dr. Amanda Henderson:

"Pastors in Name Only" "Wicked Witch of Woke" “I've never seen anyone commit so much blasphemy against the word of God." As pastors become Democratic nominees — at least 5 so far, and likely one more tonight — their Republican opponents are attacking their faith. religionnews.com/2026/08/04/p...

'They're not real pastors': As clergy run as Democrats, Republicans question their faith

(RNS) — 'It's a sign that they are really scared they're gonna lose this seat,' the Rev. Sarah Trone Garriott, a Lutheran pastor running for Congress in Iowa, said. She is part of a wave of religious ...

religionnews.com

Senate Majority Leader Thune tells reporters, when questioned about Trump's "SAVE" Act election bill and eliminating the filibuster, jokes that some times he feels that he is the only person in DC who can count to 50

AUSTIN, Texas (RNS) — The lawsuit is the latest challenge to Senate Bill 10 — this time under Texas law.

Houston mothers challenge Texas Ten Commandments law under state religious freedom protections

AUSTIN, Texas (RNS) — The lawsuit is the latest challenge to Senate Bill 10 — this time under Texas law.

religionnews.com

PSA: This still works, and I still highly recommend it.

Jack Jenkins@jackjenkins.me · 4w ago

Seriously: maybe it's just us, but this is weirdly, wildly effective.

Serious question: What does the president think a "red city" is? Like, what city would that be, exactly?

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 2d ago

Trump: "Look at the blue cities. What do they have in common? They're all dirty. They're filthy dirty. Their streets are dirty. Their streets smell. Their storefronts are broken. Their trees are all gross. Everything about the place is dirty. It's really all of them."

Relatedly, if anyone has millions of dollars they wanna hand me, I'll happy found and run a liberal arts school for the current era.* *I have no idea what this means, but I'd have fun figuring it out!

Jack Jenkins@jackjenkins.me · 2d ago

I'll give AI this: It has somehow managed to make those of us who went to small liberal arts colleges even more smug about it than we already were.

I'll give AI this: It has somehow managed to make those of us who went to small liberal arts colleges even more smug about it than we already were.

FWIW, the sound situation in a theater — much less the explosive sounds in a Nolan film — is the main reason I wouldn't have considered this with a newborn. I watched a ton of films with my own newborn kid passed out on me. Most parents these days do — but I wore headphones throughout.

Miles Klee 🦉@milesklee.bsky.social · 2d ago

is there some future competitive advantage with college admissions if you deafened your child to Ludwig Göransson

When the House voted on a resolution to strip military aid for Israel, most Jewish lawmakers in the House didn't support it. Rep. Jamie Raskin told @jackjenkins.me why he did in a story that more broadly explores this division among Jewish lawmakers: religionnews.com/2026/07/30/w...

The House vote that split Jewish Democrats and is reshaping alliances

(RNS) — 'I think it's a sign of health, as well as inevitable, that the Jewish members of Congress would approach this vote from different perspectives,' Rep. Jamie Raskin said.

religionnews.com

Bash gets gamed by RFK Jr. near the end here, when he asks a rhetorical question about what her “job” is. She starts to answer, but I’d argue it’s better to reject the question: e.g., “Mr. Secretary, you’re here because you agreed to *be* interviewed, not conduct one. On that, my next question…”

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 3d ago

RFK Jr: Dana, you probably don't understand this because you're not a scientist BASH: Well you're not either! RFK Jr: I know you're flustered now

Look, people respond as human beings in intense situations, and I have deep sympathy for television correspondents — their job is way, way harder than people think. But all the same, it remains a problem that Bash responded to RFK Jr here by rebuking a personal attack, instead of fact-checking him.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 3d ago

RFK Jr yelling at Dana Bash sounds like a rabid dog barking

More news out of Ohio: Haitian immigrants in the state were given notice to appear at the DHS office outside of Cincinnati to receive ankle monitors.

OLIYA SCOOTERCASTER@scootercaster.com · 3d ago

Haitian TPS holders walk out with a fitted ankle monitors after mandatory ICE office check in at Blue Ash Ohio facility. After Supreme Court decision to terminal Temporary Protective Status, many Haitian community members received notices to appear at the location.

One of my takeaways from the Odyssey discourse is that a lot of folks were apparently way, way more into the ancient Greek stuff they taught us in middle school than I was (except Prometheus, which is, of course, the GOAT Greek myth).

What are you reading this weekend?

Influencer culture subtext notwithstanding, genuinely curious about the theology here: why, specifically, preach to people who literally can’t walk away? (Also, in addition to non-Christians, curious how other Christians on these flights react, as there are likely many from other traditions.)

Jack Jenkins@jackjenkins.me · 4d ago

“…the airline said in a statement[:] ‘For the foreseeable future, the guest will not be permitted to travel on our flights.’” … “She said she wants to contact an attorney and intends to continue preaching on planes.” www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2026/...

“…the airline said in a statement[:] ‘For the foreseeable future, the guest will not be permitted to travel on our flights.’” … “She said she wants to contact an attorney and intends to continue preaching on planes.” www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2026/...

Preflight sermon gets plane preacher kicked off Alaska Airlines flight

Florida evangelist Whitney Lynn shared clips of her removal on social media and racked up millions of views.

washingtonpost.com

Some context on the journalistic framing here: 1. This is, in fact, Leo's first real U.S. television interview since becoming the pontiff. 2. The interview consists of 1.5 questions, and is exactly 2:15 min long. He has spoken to other reporters for much longer. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnDh...

Pope Leo XIV reflects on being the first American pope

YouTube video by NBC News

youtube.com

For more on the broader situation here, read the latest reporting from @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social, who was among the first to report on these pastors last weekend over at @rns.org: religionnews.com/2026/07/27/r...

Released Texas pastors say immigration agents threatened family separation

(RNS) — At a Sunday service after their release, which was backed by a range of Latino evangelical groups, the Assemblies of God pastors urged Christians to speak out for immigrants.

religionnews.com

Nancy Levine Stearns@nancylevinestearns.bsky.social · 5d ago

🧵 NEW: A spokesperson for Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, where Franklin Graham is president and CEO, messaged me today about two married pastors in the U.S. on religious visas who were arrested by ICE last week in Texas as they were trying to fly to a Billy Graham marriage conference.

"A new analysis of Black voters in the South indicates that Republican attempts to dilute their political power is driving them to the polls in larger numbers and shifting their counties further left."

Republican disenfranchisement bid drives Black voters to polls, study finds

Black voters in south motivated to turn out by Republican push to redraw maps after supreme court ruling

theguardian.com

🧵 NEW: A spokesperson for Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, where Franklin Graham is president and CEO, messaged me today about two married pastors in the U.S. on religious visas who were arrested by ICE last week in Texas as they were trying to fly to a Billy Graham marriage conference.

Fascinating report from Texas about how "Make America Great Again!" Christians and "Impeach the orange cheeto!" Christians have actually found that fabled common ground in opposing data centers. sojo.net/articles/new...

“A deal with the devil”: Religion Motivates Data Center Opponents in Texas

Some see the AI facilities as a sign of the apocalypse, others see an opportunity to advocate for environmental stewardship.

sojo.net

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 5d ago

Hassett: "Data centers are very good for towns bc they create so many jobs & bring people in with high incomes that can buy houses & stuff like that. So if you take a sleepy town that hasn't seen much in the last 30 years & put a data center there, there are gonna be a bunch of happy residents."

Rep. Jamie Raskin told me he rejects the notion that Jewish Dems should vote as a bloc, including on Israel. That played out in a recent vote to cut military aid to Israel: 13 Jewish Dems voted against, but 1 didn't vote, and 8 voted in favor — including Raskin. religionnews.com/2026/07/30/w...

The House vote that split Jewish Democrats and is reshaping alliances

(RNS) — 'I think it's a sign of health, as well as inevitable, that the Jewish members of Congress would approach this vote from different perspectives,' Rep. Jamie Raskin said.

religionnews.com