As exhausted as many of us are by the ever more sordid revelations in the Epstein scandal, author and journalist Rabbi Jay Michaelson says its importance is only growing. Joining host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush on this edition of The State of Belief, Jay argues that the way the scandal is being handled is nothing short of a moral referendum, “not just on Donald Trump and on the administration, but, really, on our society as a whole.”

Jay also sounds the alarm about developments in anti-Jewish bigotry in recent months, including an explosion in antisemitism in connection with the Epstein files. He has harsh words for the way responsible voices have been too silent in the face of the conspiracy theories proliferating in the ongoing chaos of the Epstein case.

In the midst of all this, a nationwide attack on LGBTQ+ rights, focusing especially on trans individuals, continues unabated. Among the latest initiatives: 47 right-wing secular and religious organizations, including some big names, are scheming ways to repeal marriage equality in this country. Jay has some thoughts on how the current Supreme Court justices are likely to approach any case involving this issue.

A meditation teacher as well as a rabbi, Jay highlights the concept of despair as a trap. And the importance of staying present and engaged. He also talks about practices that can help sustain us in these challenging times.

Paul also shares his words from the People's State of the Union, attended by a number of members of Congress and organized by MoveOn as an antidote to the theatrics that took place under the rotunda.

More about Jay Michaelson

Rabbi Dr. Jay Michelson is a visiting researcher at Harvard Law School and a field scholar at the Emory Center for Psychedelics and Spirituality. He is also an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in The Daily Beast, Rolling Stone, and CNN. Jay worked as an LGBTQ activist for 10 years and is the author of 10 books, including God versus Gay: The Religious Case for Equality. These days, he writes a weekly Substack newsletter, Both/And With Jay Michelson, which is a must-read.

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Father Jim Martin’s new memoir, Work in Progress: Confessions of a Bus Boy, Dishwasher, Caddy, Usher, Factory Worker, Bank Teller, Corporate Tool, and Priest, includes plenty of funny stories that are also deeply human, full of honesty and hope. Jim’s always a wonderful guest, and this week he joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to walk us through some of the memorable moments in this book.

The book opens with stories of summer jobs ranging from dishwasher to factory worker, all while weaving in the idea that God works even in the most mundane places. This is an invaluable reminder that we’re all on a spiritual journey, whether we realize it or not. And the path to faith isn’t a straight line. It’s messy, ongoing, and filled with grace. Honesty is what makes his memoir resonate. It invites us to reflect: where are we still "works in progress"?

Father Jim also takes us through the tumultuous history of America—recalling moments like the Bicentennial, the moon landing, and the Nixon resignation—and connects it to our current time. We’re living in a moment that will surely be remembered as monumental, and Jim’s reflections on truth, history, and the ways we forget or erase it feel especially urgent. Lies and nostalgia can be dangerous when they hide the real stories, especially the stories of marginalized communities.

What’s powerful is how Jim emphasizes that the gospel isn’t about nostalgia or idealized versions of the past; it’s about standing with those on the margins—migrants, refugees, LGBTQ+ folks, and others dehumanized and pushed aside. His stories about engaging with those communities—meeting Pope Francis, speaking at protests, standing with migrants—are inspiring. They’re a reminder that courage isn’t absence of fear but standing with others when it’s hard.

Our lives, our nation, and our faith are all ongoing works. We’re never finished, and that’s the point. Father Jim Martin's reflection on his own moments of reckless youth, and how those stories led him closer to a calling, offers hope to anyone feeling like their journey is incomplete.

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In a time of mounting division and injustice, faith isn’t just a personal refuge—it’s a call to step up and speak out. This week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is joined by Bishop Dwayne Royster, Executive Director of Faith in Action.

Talk about action—Bishop Dwayne and partners organized a massive, diverse, faith-inspired gathering in Washington, D.C. just days after a series of ICE-related deaths. 450 clergy mobilized in 72 hours, with multiple faith traditions coming together to oppose policies rooted in hate and fear—and almost 60 faith leaders arrested during the peaceful protest. As the bishop describes his own motivation, he subjected himself to arrest “for all my neighbors that don't deserve to be arrested, detained, or deported.” Others visited individual senators’ offices, making over 50 Hill visits to challenge funding for the extremist practices of ICE. It’s all a reminder that faith, when truly grounded, can be a revolutionary force.

With the 250th anniversary of the country this year, Bishop Dwayne has a powerful vision for faith-inspired organizing for the occasion: “We all want to survive and live our best lives, and that requires us to come together, love our neighbors, and build a different story for America.” This underscores once again that our faith and beliefs are a resource of resilience, meant to be shared in action, not just in prayer.

Another layer to this: it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of injustice, but each of us has a role. Whether we march, donate, pray, or hold space for others, our collective effort is what moves the needle. As Bishop Dwayne beautifully put it, “We all have different contributions—some in the streets, some behind the scenes, some in policy, some in prayer.”

That’s a crucial truth—each person’s place in this movement is vital. We can find the testimony that grounds each of us, whether rooted in faith, philosophy, or our own personal convictions. When the moment calls, that’s what will carry us—the belief that your action, no matter how small, is part of a larger and essential whole.

Also, Interfaith Alliance is taking the Trump administration to court. At the top of the show, attorney and Democracy Forward Executive Director Skye Perryman is back to explain this lawsuit, brought with a diverse group of partners, which focuses on the lack of representative pluralism in the makeup of the Religious Liberty Commission.

More About Bishop Dwayne

Bishop Dwayne Royster is a faith leader and community organizer who serves as the executive director of Faith in Action, a national network dedicated to grassroots organizing for racial and economic justice. An ordained minister in the Progressive National Baptist Convention, he has spent decades working at the intersection of faith, public policy, and social change.

More About Faith in Action

Faith in Action is a grassroots, nonpartisan, global, faith-based organizing network. It works with over a thousand congregations in more than 200 cities and towns through its 46 local and state federations.

More About the Lawsuit

A multifaith coalition—including Interfaith Alliance, Muslims for Progressive Values, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and Hindus for Human Rights—filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York challenging the Trump administration’s Religious Liberty Commission. The plaintiffs argue the commission was created and structured in a way that violates federal law and undermines religious pluralism.

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What does courage look like on the ground? For many faith leaders and everyday citizens, it involves showing up despite risks, discomfort, or opposition. Dr. Simran Jeet Singh, scholar and activist, describes courage rooted in love and fearlessness—values encoded in Sikh teachings like nirpo (fearlessness) and nirvad (without hatred).

Simran reflects that true bravery is not about bravado or self-assertion but about steadfastly choosing love over hatred, even when faced with hate or violence. For example, during a clergy-led protest in Minnesota, ordinary people—clergy, community members, and even those with vulnerabilities—stood on the front lines, committed to protecting their neighbors and advocating for justice. Their actions exemplify that small, consistent acts of love and solidarity are the most powerful resistance to authoritarian tactics.

This kind of courage asks us to stand with neighbors in difficult moments, practice humility and listen deeply, and act lovingly in the face of fear.

The author of the best-selling book The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life, Simran shares a story from Sikh tradition that struck me: a tiny lantern flickering in the darkness, not to fix everything but to let a little light shine. When enough of those lanterns light up, the darkness begins to lift. It’s a simple, powerful lesson: humility, love, and perseverance are acts of courage.

Thursday, Feb. 5th was the annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC. This purportedly apolitical event has turned into a “partisan farce,” in the words of US Rep. Jim Clyburn. He spoke with us exclusively about his reasons for not attending the breakfast, and you’ll hear that along with the comments of other members of Congress who have also made the difficult decision to absent themselves: Rep. Jared Huffman, Rep. Lucy McBath, and then Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who is also an ordained minister. Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush was invited to share thoughts about the Christian Nationalist takeover of the National Prayer Breakfast on C-Span, and you’ll hear an excerpt of that on this week’s show, as well.

More about Simran Jeet Singh

Dr. Simran Jeet Singh is a scholar, educator, writer and activist, who focuses on religion and racism. Simran is a professor at the historic Union Theological Seminary and Senior Advisor for the Aspen Institute’s Religion & Society Program, a columnist for the Religion News Service, and a contributor for TIME Magazine. A Texas native, Simran is the author of several important books, including the national best-seller The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life, and his Substack is titled, More of This, Please. Simran also hosts Wisdom & Practice, a new podcast by The Aspen Institute and PRX. He's working on a new television series titled Undivided.

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It’s not a zero-sum game. This week on The State of Belief, interfaith organizer Maggie Siddiqi makes clear that coming together to counter antisemitism and Islamophobia is an essential part of the effort to protect American democracy. And doing that requires countering the narrative that somehow supporting one of these communities is harming the other.

Maggie and host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush discuss some of the concrete ways these communities are, in fact, coming together, but also the very real risks that doing so brings, and the courage needed to persevere in the face of challenges that can include divisions and mistrust within diverse communities themselves.

The result can be profoundly inspiring: Paul and Maggie talk in-depth about a major Capitol Hill briefing last December convened by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) and Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), in partnership with Interfaith Alliance and Union Theological Seminary. In addition to MPAC President Salam Al-Marayati and JCPA CEO Amy Spitalnick, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon, a Muslim, and Congressman Jamie Raskin, who is Jewish, addressed the gathering, moderated by Union Seminary Senior Executive Vice President Rev. Fred Davie.

Paul and Maggie walk us through some of the highlights of the event, with excerpts from the various speakers and commentary on the significance of their words. For context, the briefing took place just days after the Hanukkah massacre of Jews in Sydney, Australia. But the focus on each other’s humanity, on the critical need for solidarity - especially during times of pain and fear – was unshakable. You can watch a recording of the entire briefing on the Interfaith Alliance YouTube page.

Paul also shares his first-person experiences on the front lines with faith leaders from all over the country who gathered last week in Minneapolis to take a moral stand against the authoritarian atrocities being perpetrated by ICE in that community.

More about Maggie Siddiqi:

Maggie Siddiqi is senior advisor at Interfaith Alliance. She is an expert in faith-based advocacy for social change, coalition-building across lines of difference, and public policy on religious freedom and standing up against hate. Maggie is also a non-resident fellow at MPAC. She has held important faith-focused positions at the office of the U.S. Secretary of Education and at the Center for American Progress. Maggie served as emcee for the briefing, in addition to playing a key role in organizing the event itself.

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On this edition of The State of Belief, Democracy Forward President and CEO (and one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World 2025) Skye Perryman is back to talk about the first year of this presidency. Democracy Forward has filed hundreds of court challenges to the administration’s unconstitutional power grab and has been remarkably successful in winning most of them.

She stresses that not even the conservative Supreme Court has always sided with this administration and that lower court judges rejecting executive branch policies are sometimes Trump appointees themselves.

Skye and host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush talk about the essential role for people of all faith traditions and belief systems to hold fast to their values and teachings regardless of the forces buffeting society, and how important maintaining community connections is to get through the enormous challenges we are all facing right now.

"Courage is the new currency," Skye often says, and stresses that there are many, many ways for people of good conscience to get involved in the work of defending and rebuilding our democracy - including, admittedly, options that do involve personal risk.

Democracy Forward has just released its 2025 Impact Report, documenting how the power of people in courts and communities has, again and again, been victorious over the relentless power grab of this administration. Skye stresses that these successes have come, in great part, thanks to the intense preparation that was done ahead of the election, and that a proactive stance regarding what may come next continues to be essential.

It’s available at https://democracyforward.org/work/research/2025-impact-report/

More About Skye Perryman:

Skye L. Perryman is the President and CEO of Democracy Forward, a nonpartisan, national legal organization that promotes democracy and progress through litigation, regulatory engagement, communications, policy education, and research. Named as one of the 2025 100 Most Influential People in the World by TIME Magazine, Skye took the helm at Democracy Forward a few months after January 6, 2021, in the midst of rising extremism in communities and courts across the country.

Skye has testified before the U.S. Congress and other expert bodies, and her legal work has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court as well as state supreme courts. She is a frequent guest on network and cable television news programs, and her work and commentary are routinely covered in national newspapers, newsmagazines, and radio broadcasts.

Skye Perryman is also an invaluable member of the Interfaith Alliance board.

More about Democracy Forward:

Since January 2025, Democracy Forward has played a leading role in inspiring courage and in protecting the American people from harmful and unlawful federal executive action. The organization has filed hundreds of legal actions, launched hundreds of investigations, and, through its Democracy 2025 initiative, has organized the largest, most successful affirmative litigation effort against executive branch excesses in United States history.

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Please forward this episode of The State of Belief to one person who would enjoy hearing this conversation - and thank you for listening!

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In this episode of The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush engages with four distinguished religious leaders and activists from Minnesota: Rev. Susie Hayward, Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown, Rev. Dr. Rebecca Voelkel, and Rev. Jim Bear Jacobs.

The discussion centers on the current authoritarian crisis engulfing their community, driven by ICE raids and systemic injustice. Each leader shares their insights on the role of faith in activism, the importance of community, and their personal experiences confronting violence and authoritarianism, both globally and locally. They also explore the historical context of displacement and oppression and the need for solidarity in these turbulent times.

The episode highlights the essential relationships strengthening and encouraging the work of our guests and every activist; the ways creative expression can support resilience; the gift that ritual can be in a time of chaos and crisis; and of course, the role faith can play for individuals and entire movements. The conversation offers valuable lessons on how to engage with and support marginalized communities even in this time of potential personal risk.

More About Our Guests:

Rev. Susie Hayward is minister for justice and formation at Creekside United Church of Christ in Minneapolis. She’s a religion and peace scholar, activist, educator, and minister, as well as a longtime leader in faith-based organizing and justice work. Susie spent 14 years at the US Institute of Peace.

Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown is an African American pastor, educator, author, and activist with more than three decades of experience advocating for underrepresented communities. With a heart for community and access for all, she stands - and activates - as a truth-teller at the intersection of faith, education, and justice.

Rev. Dr. Rebecca Voelkel is Pastor for Justice Ministries and Director of the Center for Sustainable Justice at Lyndale United Church of Christ, and adjunct faculty at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. She’s the author of the book Carnal Knowledge of God: Embodied Love and the Movement for Justice.

Rev. Jim Bear Jacobs is a Mohican pastor, author, and environmental justice leader who works with Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light. Formerly the Director of Racial Justice and Community Engagement for the Minnesota Council of Churches, Rev. Jim Bear weaves Indigenous spirituality, Christian faith, and climate justice into powerful teachings on healing, land, and community.

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In the latest episode of The State of Belief, we dive into the vital theme of religious freedom as portrayed in the new film, The Testament of Ann Lee. Joining host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush for this enlightening discussion are Interfaith Alliance colleagues and film fans Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons and Alyssa Klein.
Here are three key takeaways from the conversation that will resonate with many:

The Intersection of Faith and Feminism: One of the most compelling aspects of The Testament of Ann Lee is its portrayal of a strong female figure in a religious leadership role. Alyssa notes that Ann Lee's story highlights how Christianity and feminism can coexist, challenging the often male-dominated narratives within religious traditions - but also illustrate the unfair gender-based challenges that she faced, and that continue to dominate much of organised religion today.

The Ongoing Struggle for Religious Freedom: Guthrie emphasizes the historical context of Ann Lee's journey, illustrating how her quest for religious freedom in the 1700s mirrors the ongoing struggles many face today. The film serves as a reminder that the fight for true religious freedom is not just about the freedom to practice one's faith but also about ensuring that this freedom extends to all, regardless of their beliefs. This is particularly relevant as we approach Religious Freedom Day on January 16th, a time to reflect on what religious freedom truly means in a diverse society.

Courage in the Face of Adversity: Both guests highlight the courage displayed by Ann Lee and her followers as they faced persecution for their beliefs. This theme of courage is not only relevant to the historical context of the Shakers but also resonates with contemporary movements advocating for social justice and equality. 

Listen to this episode and reflect on how these themes of faith, feminism, and freedom can inspire us in our own lives and communities. Let's continue the conversation about what it means to truly embrace religious freedom for everyone.

More About Our Guests:
Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons is vice president of program and strategy at Interfaith Alliance. Author of the book Just Faith: Reclaiming Progressive Christianity, Guthrie holds an MDiv from Union Theological Seminary in New York City and is a fellow at the Center for American Progress Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative. Read Guthrie's column on The Testament of Ann Lee here.
Alyssa Klein is a journalist and the creative force behind Interfaith Alliance's social media strategy. With a focus on art, advocacy, and social change, she's worked for prominent causes including the Women's March on Washington. Her writing has appeared in Vice, among other periodicals.

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Happy New Year! In this episode of The State of Belief, Religion News Service reporters Adelle Banks and Jack Jenkins join host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to reflect on a remarkable year at the intersection of religion and public life. Adelle, a veteran journalist covering religion, race, and African-American faith communities, and Jack, a national reporter focused on religion and politics, share insights from their extensive reporting and collaboration at RNS.

Our conversation highlights how religion has shaped key moments in recent American history. Adelle discusses her reporting on houses of worship in the Washington, D.C., area that rallied to support federal workers facing job losses, offering everything from legal help to counseling. Jack examines faith-based resistance to Trump-era immigration policies, including Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde’s widely noted Inauguration Day sermon and lawsuits brought by religious groups advocating for immigrant rights.

We also explore Black ministers pushing back against rollbacks of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, the growing influence of Christian Nationalism in government, and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. military chaplaincy. The episode touches on the election of Pope Leo, the first American pope, and what his leadership could mean for U.S. Catholics.

Throughout, Adelle and Jack share stories of courage, compassion, and activism within religious communities, underscoring the vital role faith continues to play in addressing social and political challenges.

More About Our Guests:

Adelle M. Banks is the projects editor and a national reporter for Religion News Service, where she has covered religion, race, the faith of African Americans, and partnerships between government and religious organizations since joining the organization in 1995. Over a career spanning nearly three decades, she has earned awards including the 2024 William A. Reed Lifetime Achievement Award. Adelle is co-author of the book Becoming a Future-Ready Church: 8 Shifts to Encourage and Empower the Next Generation of Leaders. 

Jack Jenkins is a national reporter for Religion News Service based in Washington, D.C., where he covers the intersection of religion and politics — with particular attention to U.S. Catholics and broader faith trends. He is the author of American Prophets: The Religious Roots of Progressive Politics and the Ongoing Fight for the Soul of the Country. Jack holds degrees in history, religion and philosophy, and a Master of Divinity focused on Christianity, Islam, and media.

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The latest episode of The State of Belief features two incredible guests: attorneys Mary Bonauto, a trailblazer in the fight for marriage equality who serves as Senior Director of Civil Rights and Legal Strategies at GLADLaw, and Ben Marcus, Senior Constitutional Law Fellow at GLADLaw. Together, they share invaluable insights on the current landscape of LGBTQ+ rights, particularly in the wake of recent legal challenges.

Here are just three of the themes that stood out:

This episode is a must-listen for anyone concerned with understanding the complexities of LGBTQ+ rights in today's society. Join us as we explore these pressing issues and discuss how we can all contribute to a more equitable future.

More about the guests:

Attorney Mary Bonauto has been with GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLADLaw) since 1990. She first fought for marriage equality in

Ben Marcus is an attorney and Senior Constitutional Law Fellow at GLADLaw, the leading LGTBQ+ legal services and civil rights organization. Ben has a deep interest in the relationship between religion and law, with a JD from Yale Law School and a master’s from Harvard Divinity School. Ben has held multiple positions at the Freedom Forum since 2015.

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