Sunday, September 6, 2026

Weekly Roundup: JD Vance, the End Times, and the Antichrist (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)

Brad and Dan break down JD Vance's wide-ranging interview with Gen Z podcaster Bryce Crawford, unpacking his comments on the end times, the possibility that the Antichrist is "living among us," and his oddly deflated answer about whether he's going to heaven — reading it all as Vance clumsily blending incompatible evangelical premillennial and Christian nationalist post-millennial theologies to court an audience he doesn't quite understand. 

They also examine the wave of right-wing attacks on Gloria Steinem following her death, using her own words on the "traditional family" to explain why pluralism in family structures is treated as an existential threat by the Christian right. 

Finally, they dig into new USPS mail-voting rules — including a whistleblower complaint and a tense court hearing before Judge Talwani — that could result in ballots being rejected over postmark delays ahead of the midterms, before closing with reasons for hope in independent medical groups' vaccine guidance and an unusually real consequence for a billionaire sports owner.
Interview: 

Justice Dept. Releases False "Anti-Catholic" Bias Report (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podcast #651)

— Justice Department “Weaponization” report falsely accuses FBI of anti-Catholic bias. (0:55)

— Maine Supreme Court says dad can block daughter from attending mom’s harmful church. (27:30)

— Texas evangelist raises flag lowered for Dolly Parton in anti-LGBTQ stunt. (46:17)

— Christian Nationalist preacher claims his ministry has raised “over 50 people” from the dead. (57:30)

— New Jersey didn’t ban prayer outside abortion clinics, but Christians are lying about it anyway. (1:06:20)
Interview: 


RESIST: 4 Ways to Defend Democracy (with Andrew Seidel) (Seth Andrews; The Thinking Atheist podcast on YouTube)

Constitutional attorney Andrew Seidel told a Sarnia, Ontario audience that things in the U.S. are dire, but there are things that all of us can do to resist.
Interview: 

The Big Flip in Texas

 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6TbLem-JpvU

 

The White House created a video game about nutrition. #nutrition #public...

 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pyxzV9HG84g

'HALLELUJAH!': Retired Admiral torches Hegseth & Vance over lies about a woke military

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tfedApt1OkY 

 

‘I Want To Play A Brief Video’: James Walkinshaw Flips The Script On GOP in ICE hearing

During a House Oversight Committee hearing titled "Amnesty and Chaos: Abuse of U.S. Immigration Policy," Representative James Walkinshaw (D-VA) gave his Republican colleagues an example of "chaos" by playing a video of ICE agents illegally entering the home of a U.S. citizen without a judicial warrant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVweCTo_X8U 

‘They are hiring thugs…not by accident’: Ex-Trump staffer EXPOSES Trump' government takeover plan

Adding to the running list of unqualified hires made by the Trump administration, a whistleblower has revealed that ICE skipped basic background checks for candidates in order to fast-track new recruits into its ranks.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vANyiLVl_OE

 

America’s 911 System Is Facing Its Own Emergency – Mother Jones

There is no single cause for the lapse in America’s 911 answer speeds. But a key factor, according to experts, academics and telecommunicators themselves, is chronic understaffing. Between 2019 and 2022, the average vacancy rate in US 911 centers was around 25 percent, according to a 2023 report from two industry groups. Another study, published in 2025, surveyed nearly 1,400 911 professionals and found that 74 percent of them worked in centers that were struggling to fill vacant positions. In many areas, staffing dipped to perilously low levels in the years following the pandemic and has been on an uphill climb ever since… 

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/911-emergency-dispatch-response-delay-oakland-st-louis-crisis-type/ 


 

Alcohol-related cancer deaths in US have more than doubled over three decades

Study finds just one drink per day could raise risk of disease with impacts extending far beyond liver cancer…

 https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/sep/04/alcohol-related-cancer-deaths


 

‘Guilt by association’: why seven international aid workers were killed in Israeli airstrike

Exclusive: Guardian investigation reveals targeting of World Central Kitchen convoy was result of widely used military tactic…

 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/05/aid-workers-gaza-killed-in-israel-airstrike-investigation


 

TX Rabbi and his Family Fight 10 Commandments in Public Schools (Americans United for the Separation of Church and State on YouTube)

Public schools are for education, not religious indoctrination. Classrooms are for teaching, not preaching. That’s why families are in court challenging a Texas law that requires all public schools to display a government-selected version of the Ten Commandments in every classroom.

The Fixler family understands that every student has the right to an inclusive education, free from government-imposed religion, and they’re speaking out to protect separation of church and state.

Share their story and learn more at au.org/TenC/

Allies in this Fight:
— AU: au.org/
— ACLU: aclu.org/
— ACLU-Louisiana: laaclu.org/
— ACLU-Texas: aclutx.org/
— FFRF: ffrf.org/
Interview: 

Why Is Trump’s DOJ Still Helping the Russian-Linked Liar Who Smeared Biden? – Mother Jones

Smirnov’s false report to the FBI fueled the GOP’s absurd effort to impeach Biden and provided ammo for the ludicrous MAGA mantra that Biden was the head of a crime family...

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/trump-doj-alexander-smirnov-liar-russia-biden-ukraine-update/ 


 

‘Not feasible’: With ballots already in the mail, election officials say it is too late for Trump’s USPS order - POLITICO

“Why the hell are you rocking the boat this late in the game?” said Stephen Richer, a former Republican recorder of Maricopa County, Arizona, who has clashed with Trump allies for defending the security of the 2020 election... 

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/04/trump-mail-ballots-order-november-elections-01065234 


 

Auchter's Art: Correctly defining socialism

Sure, implementing Medicare-for-all will be disruptive. But it's a real solution to a very real problem that's getting worse and worse...

 https://www.michiganpublic.org/opinion/2026-09-04/auchters-art-socialism


 

Surprisingly strong jobs report could set stage for Fed rate hike - POLITICO

Investors are pricing in a good chance of a rate hike this month, several weeks out from the midterm elections, a prospect that’s likely to anger President Donald Trump. But the data also provides him an argument that the economy is holding up well in the face of the war in the Middle East that has pushed up oil prices and fueled inflation...

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/04/jobs-report-fed-rate-hike-01064704 




Was Spinoza an atheist? (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)

After remembering the life of the great feminist and humanist Gloria Steinem, we speak with Professor Steven Nadler about his new bombshell book, “Spinoza, Atheist.”
Interview: 


‘We've told them he cannot come’: Republicans grapple with how to handle Trump on the trail - POLITICO

Many privately admit they’re stuck in an uncomfortable spot: By running too far from Trump, Republicans risk alienating the MAGA faithful or the president himself, whose super PAC is sitting on more than $400 million they desperately need deployed to help them win key races. But if the candidates keep Trump close, they could be dragged down by the president, as the unpopular war in Iran has increased costs for Americans across the country...

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/04/trump-republicans-struggle-midterms-01064541 


 

RFK Junior ordered the CDC to change data. #publichealth #doctor

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/y46kATypi8Q 

 

Trump signs pro-rancher actions amid beef import outrage - POLITICO

The White House’s latest plans are designed to boost U.S. ranchers who were largely worried about the administration’s moves to lower beef prices...

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/04/trump-signs-rancher-friendly-eo-following-import-plan-outrage-01065578


 

How Talarico is countering Trump's midterms convention - Live Updates - POLITICO

The Texas Democratic Senate candidate is hosting a statewide food drive to highlight the high cost of groceries, according to plans shared first with POLITICO...

 https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/09/04/congress/talarico-texas-midterms-convention-01065607 


Colorado Can Take Months to Warn Consumers of Risky Cannabis Products — ProPublica

Not an Anomaly: In the cases we reviewed, Colorado marijuana regulators took over seven months, on average, to warn the public after receiving a complaint or starting an investigation. 

Open Loopholes: Colorado lacks measures adopted in many other marijuana markets to improve testing procedures that prevent contaminated marijuana from going to stores. 

Multiple Chances: Even when the state discovers problems with a product that’s in dispensaries, manufacturers say they often continue selling the product while challenging the findings...

 https://www.propublica.org/article/colorado-marijuana-enforcement-division-sima-sciences-midnight-drops


 

Confirmation of measles death gives Pennsylvania governor another chance to call out RFK Jr. - POLITICO

“Instead of listening to the real doctors and public health experts, RFK chose to sow doubt, play politics, direct the CDC not to acknowledge these deaths, and even accuse me of fabricating these tragedies,” Shapiro posted on the social media platform... 

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/04/pennsylvania-measles-death-rfk-josh-shapiro-01065728 


 

US judge extends block on Trump order to restrict mail-in voting

Indira Talwani’s ruling presents major setback for president as first states begin to send out mail ballots for midterms…

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/04/us-judge-trump-mail-in-voting


 




 

Judge denies DOJ’s request to drop charges against Adani co-conspirators - POLITICO

In his 14-page decision, U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis accused Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter of offering “unsubstantiated, self-serving pronouncements” while refusing to comply with procedural requirements. Garaufis recounted a flurry of court filings in which he repeatedly urged McCotter to submit “factual support” for the department’s decision to drop the two counts — only to have McCotter respond without doing so...

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/04/judge-denies-doj-s-request-to-drop-charges-against-adani-co-conspirators


 

Trump’s arch could break ground without federal approval : NPR

For now, Beyer said, the best chance of halting construction likely lies with the Vietnam veterans' lawsuit. And that legal fight is now escalating...

 https://www.npr.org/2026/09/04/nx-s1-5957459/trump-arch-excavation-lawsuit-veterans


Universal health care is common sense. #isaiahmartin #debate #democrats

 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/e9W0NtTOsic

 

Trump's Tweet Crashes Cattle Market Producers Furious!

 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/c3DNjMecGPI.

 

Trump administration halted Great Lakes invasive species project. Then Whitmer called Trump.

The Wednesday phone call was a surprising intervention by the Democratic governor, who has developed an unusual relationship with a president who was once one of her fiercest political foes. Hours after the call, the stop-work order was lifted...

 https://www.michiganpublic.org/transportation-infrastructure/2026-09-04/the-trump-administration-halted-a-great-lakes-invasive-species-project-then-whitmer-called-trump


 

The Bible: Written by boys - Fisher - Super S****y Fund (The Phil Ferguson Show podcast #559)

Interview with Karis Burkowski and David Fitzgerald. Their new book is "Clearly Written by Boys - A Woman's Guid to the Bible". The book reviews 5 of the most famous women in the bible. Deep dive in how the bible was written and modified over time to make women look dirty, weak, stupid and Evil. The book goes over those stories and many other problems with the bible.

Also: Discussion on Fisher Investments
and...
A Super Shitty Fund
Interview: 

Trump’s ex-labor secretary drank on job and created ‘toxic’ work environment, report alleges

Labor department report alleges Lori Chavez-DeRemer also made a staffer attend a strip club while on a personal trip…

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/04/lori-chavez-deremer-misconduct-report


 

State's top health official says vaccine waiver trend risks disease outbreaks in schools

"We as a society, we've forgotten how devastating these illness are," she said. "I just want to remind people that these diseases are not minor inconveniences. Mumps, we know, can make someone infertile for life. Measles — people can die from measles, they can end up with hearing loss from measles."…

 https://www.michiganpublic.org/health/2026-09-04/states-top-health-official-says-vaccine-waiver-trend-risks-disease-outbreaks-in-schools


 

US immigration judges told to slash time given to people awaiting visas or green cards before being deported

Exclusive: Mandatory training for judges also urged them to threaten attorneys who accept too many cases…

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/04/immigration-judges-limit-time-deportations


 

Deadly escalation in Black Sea attacks prompts fears of even higher food prices

Russian and Ukrainian strikes in July killed more crew than in whole war to that month, preventing grain exports…

 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/04/deadly-black-sea-attacks-threaten-grain-exports-food-prices-russia-ukraine


 

Hell's IT Dept. - No Jews Allowed #comedy #itguy

 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-9o1QIwKyOs

 








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