Freethought Radio

After discussing the Christian Nationalist roots of the insurrection at the national Capitol on Jan. 6, and calling for President Trump's impeachment, we listen to Rep. Jamie Raskin's eloquent plea for the passage of Resolution 512 calling for an end to blasphemy laws. Then we speak with FFRF's Director of Governmental Affairs Mark Dann, who explains why there is optimism for the freethought, science, equality and state/church agendas with the incoming administration and new Congress.

We celebrate the new year by saying farewell to the disastrous 2020. We play some comfort music and protest music by freethinking songwriters, performed (mostly) by freethinking singers. We hear Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Yip Harburg, Jerome Kern, Stephen Sondheim, and more — performed by Tom Lehrer, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, Pete Seeger, Nina Simone, Elton John, James Taylor, Cher, Dan Barker and Shelley Segal.

FFRF attorney Liz Cavell describes FFRF's alarming new report: "Religious Liberty Under Threat: The Christian Nationalist Capture of the Federal Judiciary." After hearing Kristin Lems' seasonal song "Solstice Time" and Dan Barker's ballad "Solstice Tribute," Michigan activist Doug Marshall tells us about the equal-time "Keep Saturn in Saturnalia" banner in Warren, Michigan, that was vandalized and stolen.

We talk about Beethoven's 250th, nonbelieving legislators, blasphemy and December displays. After hearing Roy Zimmerman's irreverent seasonal song "Christma-Hanu-Rama-Ka-Dona-Kwanzaa," New York Times Supreme Court columnist and Yale scholar Linda Greenhouse describes what she calls "grievance conservatism" in her recent article, "Justice Amy Coney Barrett's Choice."

This week we talk about SCOTUS, churches and COVID-19; Kansas schools and proselytizing Franklin Graham; praying Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and non-praying Hollywood celebrity John Davidson. Then we talk with former church music director Steven Phelps who is now an atheist songwriter and performer in Nashville. We hear his moving ballad "After The Last Amen" and his state/church song "Public Places."

Happy Thanksgiving! Co-presidents Annie Laurie Gaylor and Dan Barker host a series of exciting 2020 reports from FFRF staff led by Legal Director Rebecca Markert and Director of Strategic Response Andrew Seidel. Actor Ed Asner accepts FFRF's "Clarence Darrow Award," activist Ben Hart accepts FFRF's "Freethinker of the Year" award . . . and more from a very busy staff!

FFRF's Director of Strategic Response Andrew Seidel dissects the shocking speech U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito delivered to the Religious Right Federalist Society last week. Then journalist Katherine Stewart, author of The Power Worshippers, talks about her recent New York Times article, "Trump or no Trump, religious authoritarianism is here to stay."

Many Christian Nationalists are denying the reality of the U.S. election results. FFRF Legal Fellow Brendan Johnson describes the amicus brief we filed with the Wisconsin Supreme Court regarding religious groups challenging COVID-19 school closure orders. Then we speak with Nandini Archer of Open Democracy about the group's report, "Revealed: $280 million of 'dark money' spent by US Christian Right groups globally," implicating Trump attorney Jay Sekulow.

We start this election week with John Lennon's "Power to the People." FFRF attorney Sam Grover describes two state/church amicus briefs FFRF has filed in federal court: one in Maine (a victory), and another in Pennsylvania (currently before the U.S. Supreme Court). After hearing Dan's song "We, The People," we talk with historian Kimberly A. Hamlin about her new book that focuses on the woman most responsible for ushering in the 19th Amendment giving "power to women voters": Free Thinker: Sex, Suffrage, and the Extraordinary Life of Helen Hamilton Gardener