Capitol Conversations

How should we think about the ethics of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine? Russell Moore joins Jeff Pickering, Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, and Travis Wussow to explain why it is ethical to take this shot. And specifically for pro-life Christians, taking the vaccines will help preserve life and end the pandemic suffering.

The round table also reflects on the one year anniversary of the pandemic and what it all means for the church going forward. 

• Read Dr. Moore’s ethics article: Is the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Unethical?
• Read Dr. Moore’s Washington Post op-ed co-authored with Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals: Not the mark of the beast: Evangelicals should fight conspiracy theories and welcome the vaccines
• Listen to the episode Jeff referenced: NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins on the COVID-19 vaccines
• Listen to the episode Chelsea referenced on institutions: Yuval Levin on the fractures in American public life and the path to renewal
• Subscribe to ERLC’s Policy Newsletter

In an 8-1 victory for religious liberty, the Supreme Court ruled Monday in Uzuegbunam v. Preczewski that governments can be held accountable for past violations of First Amendment freedoms. Jeff Pickering, Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, and Travis Wussow welcome lawyer and free speech advocate Casey Mattox to the roundtable to talk about the decision and why it matters.

Casey Mattox is vice president for legal and judicial strategy at Americans for Prosperity, where he advocates for a legal system that respects the rule of law and protects individual liberty. For over fifteen years before joining Americans for Prosperity, Casey’s legal career focused on defending the First Amendment rights of students, faculty, families, healthcare workers and religious organizations. He has litigated in 35 states and also testified three times before congressional committees. Casey has a J.D. from Boston College School of Law and a B.A. in Government and History from the University of Virginia.

• Find Casey on Twitter at @CaseyMattox_
• Read ERLC’s Explainer on the Uzuegbunam case
• Read the Top Quotes from the Uzuegbunam Opinions
• See Russell Moore’s comment on the case
• Check out the ERLC’s amicus brief
• Check out American’s for Prosperity’s amicus brief
• Subscribe to ERLC’s Policy Newsletter

We want to help you think well about immigration, especially as news reports grow over potential surges of unaccompanied minors at the U.S. southern border. How do we care for immigrants well and celebrate immigration as important to America while also not creating a magnet for a border crisis? Jeff Pickering and Travis Wussow welcome Laura Collins to the roundtable to help answer that question.

Laura Collins serves as Director, Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute. Collins previously served as the Director of Immigration Policy at the American Action Forum. She has experience in politics, working as a Senior Research Analyst at the Republican National Committee for the 2012 election cycle and in the Texas House of Representatives for the 82nd Legislature. A former practicing attorney, Collins earned a JD from The University of Texas School of Law and a BBA from the University of Oklahoma.

• Connect with Laura and her work at the Bush Institute
• Read Laura’s January 2019 op-ed: Border challenges are real and urgent, but solutions are more complex
• Read the Bush Center’s White Paper: Smart Border Policy For The 21st Century
• Check out former President George W. Bush’s new book, Out of Many, One
• Guaranteeing Secure National Borders: Thinking Biblically about Immigrants and Immigration Reform Series by ERLC Policy Staff
• Subscribe to ERLC’s Policy Newsletter

The ERLC’s public policy advocacy includes supporting good legislation while also opposing bills that are harmful to the common good. Jeff and Chelsea welcome their friend Katie Glenn from Americans United for Life to discuss how the promotion of justice for life-affirming laws requires both.

Katie Glenn serves as Government Affairs Counsel at Americans United for Life. Her work to enact pro-life laws at the state and federal level includes writing and testifing on all of AUL’s issue areas across the United States. She is an associate editor of Defending Life 2020, and plays an integral role in AUL’s growing advocacy in Latin America. Prior to AUL, she worked with legislators, faith leaders, and religious institutions to protect religious freedom for all Americans, while traveling across the country to assist in the legislative process. She graduated with honors from Tulane University and earned her Juris Doctor from the University Of Florida Levin College Of Law.

• Connect with Katie at AUL
• Read more: ERLC opposes H.R.5 the Equality Act
• Go deeper: What is the Equality Act? by ERLC Policy Staff
• Watch the Super Bowl ad on US Paralympian Jessica Long
• Check out the 2 reports Katie referenced Unsafe, a 50-state investigative report on America’s abortion industry conditions and Defending Life 2021
• Subscribe to ERLC’s Policy Newsletter

Jeff, Chelsea, and Travis discuss three big international stories for Christians to consider. They cover an update on the Chinese Uyghur genocide, how Christians are often left out of Middle East peace accords, and what we can learn about the fragility of democracy from the coup in Myanmar. 

This episode was sponsored by The Good Book Company, publisher of Being the Bad Guy by Stephen McAlpine.

• Chelsea’s story: 'Their goal is to destroy everyone': Uighur camp detainees allege systematic rape / Genocide
  • Go deeper with this article: U.S. announces genocide determination for the ongoing attrocities committed against Uyghurs by Chelsea Patterson Sobolik
• Travis’ story: Abraham’s Missing Child: Christians
  • Go deeper with this ERLC podcast episode: Matti Friedman on the Middle East after the Abraham Accords
• Jeff’s story: Myanmar coup: What is happening and why?
  • Go deeper with this NPR podcast episode: Myanmar Explained: How A Coup Followed Unproven Allegations Of Voter Fraud
  • All 10 living former defense secretaries: Involving the military in election disputes would cross into dangerous territory
• International religious liberty: The ERLC’s work in Geneva by Jeff Pickering
• Genocide: The power of words and the obligation to “do something” by Travis Wussow
• ERLC led letter urging the State Department to designate Rohingya persecution as genocide
• Join ERLC as we STAND FOR LIFE at ERLC.com/STANDFORLIFE
• Visit The Good Book Company to check out Being the Bad Guy by Stephen McAlpine
• Subscribe to ERLC’s Policy Newsletter

As we step into a new year, as well as a new administration in Washington, D.C., we want to join together to discuss this important moment in the pro-life movement. We believe that the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case which will occur in January of 2023 will mark a significant moment in time for the pro-life movement. We have a powerful opportunity now to begin 2021 discussing the future of the pro-life movement and begin casting a vision for the next three years—what we are calling the “Road to Roe50”.

This panel first aired during the ERLC’s Evangelicals for Life conference on Thursday, January 28, 2021.

This episode was sponsored by The Good Book Company, publisher of Being the Bad Guy by Stephen McAlpine.

Denise Harle serves as senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom. Denise focuses her litigation efforts on defending the First Amendment freedoms of pro-life health care professionals and pregnancy resource centers. She also works to defend pro-life legislation around the nation. Since joining ADF, Harle took the primary role in drafting the briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court in NIFLA v. Becerra, resulting in a free speech victory for California pro-life pregnancy centers.

Steven Aden serves as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel for Americans United for Life. Aden is an experienced litigator, having appeared in court against Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry dozens of times and appointed by the attorneys general of six states to defend pro-life laws securing numerous victories.

• Watch EFL 2021
• Join ERLC as we STAND FOR LIFE at ERLC.com/STANDFORLIFE
• Visit The Good Book Company to check out Being the Bad Guy by Stephen McAlpine
• Subscribe to ERLC’s Policy Newsletter

Jeff, Chelsea, and Travis discuss President Biden’s first week of executive actions, both those which are praiseworthy and others which raise concern. This flurry of policy-making from the White House also shows how far we’ve strayed from the constitutional structure of our federal government.

Then, our colleague Elizabeth Graham joins the roundtable for the first time to introduce the ERLC’s Psalm 139 Project which places life-saving ultrasound machines in pregnancy care centers. The ERLC’s efforts to Stand For Life take a big step forward this year as we launch our Road to ROE50 initiative at our annual Evangelicals For Life conference.

Guest Biography

Elizabeth Graham serves as Vice President of Operations and Life Initiatives for the ERLC. She provides leadership, guidance and strategy for life and women’s initiatives and provides oversight to other strategic projects as needed. Additionally, she directs the leadership, management and operations for all ERLC events. Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is married to Richmond, and they have a son and a daughter.

• The team’s favorite Bernie Sanders memes
  • Travis: Bernie in Dr. Moore’s office
  • Chelsea: Bernie in The Office conference room
  • Jeff: Bernie at Joe’s thing
  • Elizabeth: Bernie in the choir loft
• Read more: President Biden’s first week of executive actions by Policy Staff
  • Read more: Why Christians can celebrate the peaceful transition of power by Jeff Pickering
  • Listen to the podcast about the book Travis mentioned: Yuval Levin on the fractures in American public life and the path to renewal
  • Go deeper: ERLC’s 2021 Public Policy Agenda
• Learn more about the ERLC’s Psalm 139 Project
  • Listen to learn about Lifeline Children’s Services: Herbie Newell on the pro-life ethic
  • Psalm 139 Project to donate 10 ultrasound machines to pregnancy resource centers across America
  • Watch: The Pearl Brown Story + Eric Brown’s EFL Keynote
  • Register for EFL on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021
• Join ERLC as we STAND FOR LIFE at ERLC.com/STANDFORLIFE
• Visit ERLC.com/STORE to download “A Parent’s Guide to Teaching Your Children About Gender: Helping Kids Navigate a Confusing Culture”
• Subscribe to ERLC’s Policy Newsletter

Jeff Pickering, Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, and Travis Wussow are back together for the start of a new year in D.C. The team reflects on the two historic Wednesdays at the U.S. Capitol and what it all means for our democracy, our public policy work, and for Christians in the public square. January 6th was a day of chaos. January 20th is a day that will see the inauguration of a new president amidst unprecedented security and pandemic precautions. Both are meaningful for the work of the ERLC.

• Watch the interview: Chaos at the Capitol: A Conversation about Conspiracies and Violence with Russell Moore
• Read Moore’s newsletter from Jan. 11: The Roman Road from Insurrection
• Read Moore’s newsletter from Nov. 16: Looking for Truth in Post-Election America
• Read Moore’s article from Nov. 7: Christians, Let’s Pray for President-Elect Joe Biden
• Read Senator Ben Sasse’s essay on leadership and counting the Electoral College votes
• Join ERLC as we STAND FOR LIFE at ERLC.com/STANDFORLIFE
• Register for EFL on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021
• Visit ERLC.com/STORE to download “A Parent’s Guide to Teaching Your Children About Gender: Helping Kids Navigate a Confusing Culture”
• Subscribe to ERLC’s Policy Newsletter

We begin 2021 with a conversation between Jeff Pickering and Russell Moore about the attack on the U.S. Capitol, and not just that as a lone event but all that led up to it. The constant assault on the truth and reality of the 2020 presidential election, that Joe Biden won and Donald Trump lost, stirred up the worst of partisan passions and led to an unimaginable assault on our democracy and a historic tragedy on Wednesday, January 6.

The interview was hosted as an ERLC webinar on Friday, January 8, 2020.

• Watch the interview
• Read Moore’s newsletter from Jan. 11: The Roman Road from Insurrection
• Read Moore’s newsletter from Nov. 16: Looking for Truth in Post-Election America
• Read Moore’s article from Nov. 7: Christians, Let’s Pray for President-Elect Joe Biden
• Join ERLC as we STAND FOR LIFE at ERLC.com/STANDFORLIFE
• Visit ERLC.com/STORE to download “A Parent’s Guide to Teaching Your Children About Gender: Helping Kids Navigate a Confusing Culture”
• Subscribe to ERLC’s Policy Newsletter

All of the hosts from the ERLC podcasts are together for one big crossover episode to wrap up 2020 with highlights, favorite things, and the banter that turns co-workers into friends.

This MEGACAST joins the ERLC Podcast crew–Josh Wester, Lindsay Nicolet, and Brent Leatherwood–with the Capitol Conversations team–Jeff Pickering, Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, and Travis Wussow–and Jason Thacker of the WeeklyTech podcast. Thanks be to Gary Lancaster, our fearless producer and America’s most elite audio engineer!

This episode is sponsored by The Good Book Company, publisher of Searching for Christmas by JD Greear. Find out more about this book at thegoodbook.com.

• ERLC Podcast with Josh Wester, Lindsay Nicolet, and Brent Leatherwood
• Capitol Conversations with Jeff Pickering, Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, and Travis Wussow
• WeeklyTech with Jason Thacker
• This Week’s Promos
  • Check out The Good Book Company
  • Learn more and apply at ERLC.com/internships
  • Make an end of year donation at ERLC.com/donate
• From the Highlights Conversation
  • What Hong Kong reveals about the future of China by Travis Wussow
  • The tension of technology: Hope and fear in the digital age by Jason Thacker
  • Hidden in Plain Sight: a call to bring hope and help to victims of abuse, winter edition of LIGHT Magazine
  • Watch The Pearl Brown Documentary
  • Looking for Truth in Post-Election America by Russell Moore
• Favorite Books
  • Brent | A Time to Build by Yuval Levin
  • Chelsea | Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund + A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War by Joseph Loconte
  • Lindsay | Spy Novels by Daniel Silva
  • Travis | The Man Who Ran Washington: The Life and Times of James A. Baker III by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser
  • Jason | The Technological Society by Jacques Ellul
  • Josh | Politics after Christendom by David VanDrunen
• Favorite Podcasts
  • Brent | The Remnant
  • Chelsea | Office Ladies
  • Lindsay | Crime Junkie
  • Jeff | The Jamie Weinstein Show
  • Jason | In Machines We Trust
  • Josh | More Perfect
• Favorite Newsletters
  • Jeff | Axios Sports by Kendall Baker
  • Travis | Jonah Goldberg’s Friday G-File
  • Jason | The Economist Espresso