Christian Student Blames Persecution for Failed Assignment (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #612)

— She turned in a Bible sermon instead of an essay and failed. Now conservatives say she’s the victim. (3:06)

— A Minnesota church told kids to hug and forgive their abuser. Then he found more victims. (44:15)

— Because of religion, a West Virginia judge just torched the state’s best public health policy. (58:40)

— Florida Attorney General declares war on adults-only holiday drag show. (1:06:18)

— Religious leaders demand “immediate cancellation” of “Merry Gothmas” festival. (1:16:11)

— Texas families file class action lawsuit to halt Ten Commandments display in every school district. (1:19:49)

— UK Supreme Court strikes down N. Ireland’s pro-Christian Religious Education curriculum. (1:23:29)
Interview: 

https://friendlyatheistpodcast.com/2025/12/04/christian-student-blames-persecution-for-failed-assignment/

“A Man Like God” (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast) It’s in the Code ep 171

Josh Hawley builds his account on masculinity and manhood on the idea that men are created in God’s image and, as such, are his representatives on earth. 

But what is Hawley’s God like? What kind of God does Hawley worship? Who is this God that is the pattern for human manhood? 

In this episode, Dan argues that Hawley’s God’s insecurity drives him to exercise his power to dominate others. Check out the episode to hear why.

Interview: 

https://straightwhiteamericanjesus.com/episodes/its-in-the-code-ep-171-a-man-like-god/

"My Republican Friends Understand They Got A Political PROBLEM"

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dA1J1ApLxrs

 

'Disgusted': Victim reacts to Trump pardoning CEO convicted of fraud

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/56w-jLFeXJQ

 

DoJ moves to eliminate sexual abuse protections for LGBTQ+ people in prisons

The US Department of Justice has moved to eliminate rules protecting LGBTQ+ people from sexual abuse in prisons, a shift advocates say is "reckless and dangerous" and will lead to increased assaults behind bars... 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/05/doj-prison-lgbtq-sexual-abuse-protections

 

New York Times sues AI startup for ‘illegal’ copying of millions of articles

Perplexity AI also faces lawsuit from Murdoch-owned Dow Jones and New York Post for its use of copyrighted content…

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/05/new-york-times-perplexity-ai-lawsuit

 

The U.S. Dept. of Labor must cancel its "Prayer Service"

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ew9XwOON07U

 

History Minute (045): Frederick Douglass: "What to the American slave is your Fourth of July?"

As found in Zinn's book, Frederick Douglass gave this speech on the Fourth of July, 1852:

"Fellow Citizens: Pardon me, and allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here today? What have I or those I represent to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us? And am I, therefore, called upon to bring our humble offering to the national altar, and to confess the benefits, and express devout gratitude for the blessings resulting from your independence to us? . . .

What to the American slave is your Fourth of July? I answer, a day that reveals to him more than all other days of the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants, brass-fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are to him mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy—a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation of the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of these United States at this very hour.

Go where you may, search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the Old World, travel through South America, search out every abuse and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say with me that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival. . . ."

Excerpt From

A People's History of the United States

Howard Zinn

 

New US seed ban risks driving cannabis genetics underground, growers warn

But if the ban goes through, she noted, "it's going to be a handful of the really large companies that have those right licenses. All those genetics, the good wine will go underground, and you're just going to get Ernest and Julio Gallo, rather than all the varietals that we can get at our local wine store. And so it's going to really impact the consumer experience."…

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/dec/06/cannabis-seed-ban-growers-warn

 

Donald Just Needs a Nap! #PaulaPoundstone #DonaldTrump #PoliticalComedy ...

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3_-ShQ1xWv8?si=4Pv6XA4QoXxViISp

 

Driving Xiaomi's Electric Car: Are we Cooked?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb6H7trzMfI

 

Is this real life? #vaccine #publichealth #doctor

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1o0zcsfu1R4

 

‘This merger must be blocked’: Netflix-Warner Bros deal faces fierce backlash

"The world's largest streaming company swallowing one of its biggest competitors is what antitrust laws were designed to prevent," the statement read. "The outcome would eliminate jobs, push down wages, worsen conditions for all entertainment workers, raise prices for consumers, and reduce the volume and diversity of content for all viewers. Industry workers along with the public are already impacted by only a few powerful companies maintaining tight control over what consumers can watch on television, on streaming, and in theaters. This merger must be blocked."…

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/dec/05/netflix-warner-bros-deal-backlash 

5 Questions to Never Answer When Buying a Car

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op8pbnQQUqI

 

I Blame You

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0mcdj8gqNJk

 

What will happen to Northern Michigan residents?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NCMzEbycT-k

 

Escape from Scientology (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)

Pamela Nickel Williams, author of the memoir Clearly Lies Are True, tells us what it was like growing up in Scientology, and how she escaped that abusive cult.

Interview:

https://ffrf.org/news/freethought-radio/freethought-today-december-4-2025/