Washington Area Secular Humanists
@wash1989.bsky.social
Serving the Secular Humanist communities of Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia! Join us today at wash.org
Brittany Boltinhouse says she lost her Miss North Carolina USA crown for being a conservative Christian. Then her old racist posts resurfaced. The persecution story fell apart FAST. www.friendlyatheist.com/p/miss-north...
Miss North Carolina USA said she lost her crown due to her faith. Then the racist posts surfaced.
Brittany Boltinhouse says her conservative Christianity cost her the title. Screenshots of her own social media posts tell a very different story.
friendlyatheist.com
Here's a really good interview w/ @realjaredhuffman.bsky.social about the threat of Christian Nationalism and why that's very different from Christianity as a whole. (Bonus points for the dig at Marie Gluesenkamp Perez for attending these right-wing Bible studies.) www.nytimes.com/2026/08/09/u...
A Democrat Sounds the Alarm on Christian Nationalism in Congress (Gift Article)
Representative Jared Huffman of California, the only self-declared “humanist” in Congress, writes in a new book that the separation of church and state is in grave danger.
nytimes.com
As Education Center intern Natalie Stevens suggests in her piece about one Celebrant’s experience with end-of-life care, we need training for Death Doulas and others that respects a non-theistic worldview and provides the training to work with people of many traditions.
The “Wild West” of Death Doula Training - TheHumanist.com
What one Humanist Celebrant’s experience reveals about professional standards, accessibility and worldview inclusion in end-of-life care
thehumanist.com
“Since decisions made today may be our last chance to prevent calamity, the decision-makers matter more than ever.” Roy Speckhardt analyzes what's at stake in November.
Our Democracy Hinges on the Midterms - TheHumanist.com
Every other year, it seems we are facing the most critical election in U.S. history. Often a case can be made that they have steadily become more crucial to both the immediate impact on everyday…
thehumanist.com
Every previous technological revolution has made some jobs obsolete while creating others. But this time, it might be different. How will humans support ourselves when robots can do any job? Susan Fourtané reports that universal basic income is a promising solution.
Universal basic income: Towards a new society by 2050
How will people support themselves and find purpose in life when robots do all the work for us?
onlys.ky
Since World War II, Israel has received more American foreign aid than any other country. But the U.S. has received little benefit from that money, and in fact, our alliance has dragged us into complicity with inhumane and disastrous wars. Adam Lee argues it's time to put our own people first.
Why can't America have Israel's welfare state?
Is American aid funding better benefits for Israelis than Americans have at home?
onlys.ky
What are the benefits of full drug decriminalization? Legal cannabis has been a roaring success: an economic engine, a valuable medicine, and an end to pointless incarceration for a victimless crime. Chris Bastardi Martini asks what other recreational substances deserve the same treatment.
Just say no to prohibition
Consciousness-altering drugs can be both lifesaving medicine and an economic engine, if we stop trying to criminalize them.
onlys.ky
A thought-provoking recent column at Psychology Today examines what happens “When Hostility to Knowledge Becomes Policy.”
When Hostility to Knowledge Becomes Policy
People deny threatening realities, and politicians turn that fear into hostility toward science, leaving the most vulnerable to bear the cost.
psychologytoday.com
Finland has a reputation as a world leader when it comes to teaching kids how to spot misinformation. A recent feature in the New York Times looks at how they’re trying to adapt to a new wave of AI-fueled “fake news.”
Finland Tries to Protect Children Against Deepfakes, With Russia in Mind
Finland, wary of misinformation from Moscow and beyond, has a leg up on other nations in spotting fake news. But A.I. is a whole new challenge.
nytimes.com
After a “rollercoaster review,” Moderna’s mRNA flu shot was granted approval by the Food and Drug Administration.
Moderna's mRNA flu shot earns FDA approval after rollercoaster review
Moderna's new flu vaccine, mFLUSIVA, is approved for all adults ages 50 and up.
arstechnica.com
Schwartz’s confirmation was briefly imperiled when she fumbled questions about her own willingness and ability to stand-up to Kennedy’s anti-vaccine nonsense. With the addition of Trump's involvement, it’s fair to wonder how long Schwartz will be able to stay in her new gig.
Will CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz Last More Than a Month? — Protect Our Care
Washington D.C. – Following the Senate’s confirmation today of Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director, sooner or later she will find herself at a crossroads with Donald Trump and HHS...
protectourcare.org
A Virginia middle school allowed a club whose activities included skinning squirrels. But a Gay-Straight Alliance? Suddenly administrators had endless concerns about "age appropriateness." Now the district is being sued—and the details are infuriating. www.friendlyatheist.com/p/virginia-s...
Virginia school district sued after repeatedly changing rules to block LGBTQ student club
King George Middle School welcomed other clubs while administrators repeatedly moved the goalposts when it involved LGBTQ students
friendlyatheist.com
"The immense hardship these families are now facing is not, in fact, 'a pretty big win,'" said one policy expert.
Trump USDA Chief Calls Kicking 5 Million People Off Food Aid 'A Pretty Big Win' | Common Dreams
"The immense hardship these families are now facing is not, in fact, 'a pretty big win,'" said one policy expert.
commondreams.org
As the cyclosporiasis outbreak continues to expand across multiple states, with two related deaths confirmed in Michigan, Ars Technica reported yesterday that the federal government is taking its sweet time updating the public about what’s going on.
Trump admin "aware" of deaths in explosive diarrhea outbreak, delays reporting
Federal officials will update the outbreak sometime "this week," a spokesperson said.
arstechnica.com
Back in September of last year, RFK Jr. claimed that “circumcised boys were twice as likely to develop autism as those not circumcised because they were given acetaminophen” ... Well, you can probably guess where this is going…
Circumcision and Autism: What a New Study Found
No link seen in U.S. boys and Tylenol use was uncommon
medpagetoday.com
A favorite argument pro-theocracy types like to make is that the First Amendment is only supposed to keep government out of religion, not the other way around. But even that only works as long as religion and government are in lockstep, as Florida’s attorney general is demonstrating.
Florida threatens to defund Catholic schools if students can’t opt out of vaccines
The state’s attorney general claims that at least one diocese has accepted the position that schools cannot offer exemptions on religious grounds
the-independent.com
Critics fear the Senate Homeland Security Committee's efforts will deter scientific talent from taking government jobs, weakening America's public health infrastructure and ceding its dominance in biomedical innovation.
🥼 Fauci hearing fallout
🐪 Halfway there, gang. Today's newsletter is 850 words, a 3-minute read.
axios.com
Texas Republicans are forcing the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom. Three moms are now fighting back using the state’s own religious freedom and parental rights laws. You love to see it. www.friendlyatheist.com/p/three-texa...
Three Texas moms cite "religious freedom" to strike down state's Ten Commandments law
The Houston parents say mandatory Christian displays violate the very protections Texas Republicans claim to champion
friendlyatheist.com
Missouri Republicans threatened to defund a library over two children’s books—one about a rainbow dinosaur, one about a fabulous wig. The official leading the charge admitted he hadn’t read them. The manufactured outrage is the whole point. www.friendlyatheist.com/p/missouri-r...
Missouri Republicans threaten to defund library over books about a rainbow dinosaur and a wig
Republicans targeted Columbia Public Library’s wholesome “Rainbow Story Time” despite finding nothing inappropriate inside the beloved books
friendlyatheist.com
Florida AG James Uthmeier is threatening Catholic school voucher funding unless they weaken their vaccine rules. Because nothing says "religious liberty" like holding money hostage until Catholic bishops accept the government’s theology. www.friendlyatheist.com/p/florida-ag...
Florida AG threatens to defund Catholic schools unless they loosen vaccination rules
James Uthmeier is leveraging taxpayer money to force his anti-vaccine beliefs on Catholic schools, which refuse to offer religious exemptions for required shots
friendlyatheist.com
We’ve seen a number of stories about how AI tools have been used to supercharge online scams in recent years. Now, Ars Technica reports on a new study that indicates “AI scammers outperform humans when it comes to building trust.”
AI scammers outperform humans when it comes to building trust
The AI chatbot was more effective at creating “exploitable trust” than the humans.
arstechnica.com