Weekly Roundup: From Neo-Nazi Remigration to Military Christian Nationalism (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)

 This week on Straight White American Jesus, Brad and Dan trace the connections between Trump-era immigration policy, rising far-right extremism, and a growing international movement built around the idea of "remigration." Beginning with unrest at New Jersey's Delaney Hall detention center, they examine former ICE official Greg Bovino's appearance at a European far-right conference and discuss how anti-immigrant rhetoric, Christian nationalism, and white identity politics are increasingly intertwined on both sides of the Atlantic. 

The conversation explores how language, policy, and political movements reinforce one another—and what it means when American officials and European extremists are drawing inspiration from the same playbook. 

 The episode also dives into new Gallup polling showing declining support for LGBTQ+ rights after decades of gains, particularly among Republicans, and considers how coordinated religious and political campaigns have reshaped public opinion. Brad and Dan connect these trends to battles over schools, charter education, and public funding, while also unpacking Pete Hegseth's efforts to narrow religious representation in the military chaplaincy. 

They close with a discussion of free speech, the courts' response to the "8647" controversy, and several signs of hope—including a federal court ruling protecting transgender service members and the ongoing celebration of Pride Month. 

Along the way, they share exciting news about the next chapter of Axis Mundi Media, including new live programming, The Daily Brief, and plans to expand independent coverage of religion, democracy, and power. Axis Mundi is becoming more than a podcast network. We are building the essential newsroom for understanding religion, democracy, extremism, and power in America today. And with your support, we can build it together. Direct support: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Tax-deductible donations through our partnering 501c3: https://www.irmce.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interview: 

• Audio only: https://www.straightwhiteamericanjesus.com/episodes/weekly-roundup-from-neo-nazi-remigration-to-military-christian-nationalism?hsLang=en
• YouTube video: https://youtu.be/Vm2xgKpod4Q?si=xvejWrbZOGQM31Im

In Iowa, school choice is booming. Some public schools are hurting : NPR

"It's getting harder and harder to teach in public education," said Allred, who grew emotional talking about the shifting demographics and the pressure they put on public schools. Soon, Allred expects to hear for certain if Cleveland is going to be closed.

 "Someone needs to love and care for these kids that nobody cares about. And it's not that the parents don't care. They don't have the access and know the federal laws to get them somewhere. And even if they did, they might be denied."…

 https://www.npr.org/2026/04/19/nx-s1-5683199/education-school-choice-iowa-students-charter-school-cedar-rapids

 

Kentucky Supreme Court CRUSHES charter school scheme to drain public education funding

When it comes to education, Kentucky’s constitution makes clear that the state must support and fund public schools. Republicans want that money to go to charter schools, a move that would steal money from real public education. That's why the Kentucky Supreme Court just unanimously rejected that proposal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zdksFUq654

 

Whitewashing a Pastor's Disturbing Legacy (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #623)

— Southern Baptists are whitewashing the bigoted legacy of Wiley Drake. (2:27)

— Ex-pastor at Greg Laurie’s megachurch: I’m too broke to fight all these sexual abuse lawsuits. (17:31)

— The anti–Project Blitz: A new tactic to fight Christian Nationalism in public schools. (38:30)

— GOP lawmaker asks God to cleanse government of non-believers at Christian Nationalist event. (45:29)

— Trust in clergy members hits record low, Gallup finds. (54:42)

— Oklahoma rejects proposed religious charter school. Supporters already plan to sue. (1:06:14)
Interview: 

https://friendlyatheistpodcast.com/2026/02/19/whitewashing-a-pastors-disturbing-legacy/

Texas Conservatives Are Scared of James Talarico (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #621)

— The “Greater Than” campaign claims loving gay parents are the real threat to kids. (2:18)

— Republicans are panicking because James Talarico wants people to act more like Jesus. (31:25)

— New Hampshire Republicans want to change their constitution so it favors Christianity. (48:50)

— The Texas Board of Education plans to force kids to read the Bible in public schools. (1:00:40)

— Church/state groups file motion to help block proposed Christian charter school in Tennessee. (1:13:20)
Interview: 

https://friendlyatheistpodcast.com/2026/02/05/texas-conservatives-are-scared-of-james-talarico/

Religious zealots want to launch a taxpayer-funded Jewish school in Oklahoma

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5ZRAhsgK2I

 

Randi Weingarten on Defending Our Public Education (Al Franken podcast)

We are joined by Randi Weingarten, the President of the American Federation of Teachers, to discuss her new book, Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy.

In the book, Weingarten details how there has been a systematic demonization of teachers and public education in America. She argues that one of the pillars of public education is critical thinking, which prevents fascism from flourishing in society – so fascists (and wannabe fascists) hate it.

We explore a variety of topics facing schoolchildren and their parents today, including charter schools, artificial intelligence, phones in schools, and the treatment of LGBTQ+ students.

We also discuss Trump’s proposed elimination of the Department of Education, attacks on teachers unions, and how we may have kept the schools closed for too long during Covid-19.

READ Randi‘s new book: https://sites.prh.com/whyfascistsfearteachers

Interview: 

https://www.alfranken.com/listen/randiweingarten250921

Private school cancels $27,000 tuition bill for child who never enrolled - The Washington Post

Some schools have pursued high-stakes legal battles in search of lost tuition dollars, with cases at times leading to garnished wages and life-altering debt. Many are fairly straightforward cases of a family not paying after their child attended classes. 

But others are against parents who withdrew their children or never sent them for reasons that include bullying and out-of-state moves. 

In some cases, court records show, schools have gone after families who were granted financial assistance for attendance. In others, they have targeted parents who had not joined their ex-spouses in signing an enrollment contract...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/08/03/private-schools-lawsuits-families/

Arizona's school voucher program fuels public school closures - The Washington Post

Supporters of school choice say families are turning to alternatives because public schools are not serving their children well. It's only right, they argue, that tax dollars follow children to whatever educational setting their families choose.

Critics complain that vouchers eat up state funding, benefit families who can afford private school on their own, disrupt communities and send tax dollars to schools that face little accountability. Unlike public schools, private schools don't have to administer state tests. They can pick and choose their students, while public schools must educate everyone...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/08/05/arizona-public-school-closures-voucher-program/

Sen. Joni Ernst Uses Jesus to Distract from Death (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #586)

– Sen. Joni Ernst defends “we all are going to die” comment with pitch to embrace Jesus. (0:48)

– Christian Nationalist Sean Feucht accused of massive financial misconduct by former ministry insiders. (14:05)

– Colorado passed a law to protect trans people. These pastors repeatedly lied about it. (31:39)

– Quincy (MA) faces lawsuit over taxpayer-funded Catholic statues at police HQ. (49:20)

– Catholic bishops file lawsuit to protect the secrets of sex predators. (1:06:46)

– In California, students with disabilities can now attend religious schools on the public dime. (1:24:35)
Interview: 

https://friendlyatheistpodcast.com/2025/06/05/sen-joni-ernst-uses-jesus-to-distract-from-death/

The Case Against School Vouchers (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)

FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliot and FFRF Legal Fellow Hirsh Joshi join us to talk about state-church developments in Utah, Alabama, Colorado, Missouri, Tennessee and Minnesota. 

Then, we speak with Michigan State University Professor Josh Cowen about his new book, The Privateers: How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers.

Interview: 

https://ffrf.org/news/freethought-radio/freethought-today-september-12-2024/

The Non-Religious Candidates on the Ballot (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #546)

— Why Hemant didn’t publish a story he worked on. (0:25)

— Tulsa mayoral candidate who wished all public officials were Christians loses race. (7:20)

— If Amendment 2 passes, Kentucky would waste taxpayer dollars on religious schools. (19:33)

— Christian pastors were told to start private schools since taxpayers would foot the bill. (32:03)

— Here are the openly non-religious candidates for state/federal office in 2024. (44:55)

— Teacher sues school district after getting fired for refusing to respect trans students. (1:02:24)
Interview: 

https://friendlyatheistpodcast.com/2024/08/29/the-non-religious-candidates-on-the-ballot/

Republican Tim Scott falsely claims Biden policy resegregates public schools | US elections 2024 | The Guardian

In fact, charter schools, which are publicly funded but which operate outside state school systems, are backed by federal government grants through the Charter Schools Program to the tune of $440m a year – a level that has remained unchanged since 2019 under the Trump administration. Scott's argument that charter schools create more diversity is also open to question. 

New research carried out by sociologists at Stanford University and the University of Southern California to mark 70 years of the landmark US supreme court ruling outlawing segregated schools, Brown v Board of Education, reveals that segregation has been creeping back up for the past 30 years. One of the main drivers of the revival, contrary to Scott's claim, has been the rise of charter schools, the academics discovered...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/26/trump-black-minority-voters-tim-scott

GOP states are embracing vouchers. Wealthy parents are benefitting. - POLITICO

Most of the beneficiaries are incoming kindergarteners or students already enrolled in private schools...

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/22/inside-school-voucher-debate-00128377

Oklahoma board approves contract for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School - The Washington Post

"While many Oklahomans undoubtedly support charter schools sponsored by various Christian faiths, the precedent created by approval of the … application will compel approval of similar applications by all faiths," Drummond wrote in a legal opinion, "even those most Oklahomans would consider reprehensible and unworthy of public funding." 

After the board approved the application in June, it was sued by a group of parents, education activists and clergy members, who argued the school, were it allowed to open, would violate the state's constitution, which requires public schools to be nonsectarian. The state law governing charter schools also requires the institutions to be nonsectarian. The plaintiffs — represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, the Education Law Center and the Freedom From Religion Foundation — said the state would be forcing taxpayers to subsidize the Catholic Church's mission of evangelization...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/10/09/oklahoma-religious-charter-school-contract-approved/

TEA Commissioner Mike Morath Has Allowed Underperforming Charter Schools to Expand — ProPublica

The granting of waivers to charter networks that have too many failing schools raises red flags as lawmakers returned to Austin on Monday for a special session of the Legislature to consider helping Texas parents cover private school tuition with state dollars, said David DeMatthews, a professor and education policy researcher at the University of Texas at Austin...

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/10/texas-mike-morath-underperforming-charter-schools-expand/

The new breed of charter schools pushing limits on separation of church and state - The Washington Post

The network's newest report looks at charter schools that it says are designed to attract Christian nationalists with specific imagery and curriculum. The student bodies of these schools are largely Whiter and wealthier than in other schools — in the charter sector and in traditional public districts — and have deep connections to people within conservative Christian movements, the report says...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/06/08/new-breed-charter-schools-/

What new rules for U.S. charter school program say - The Washington Post

…These new regulations are an essential first step in making sure that fewer tax dollars go to schools that never open, schools that quickly close, and for-profit operators. Unscrupulous individuals who used the program for their enrichment will find it more difficult to do so. State Entities that have pushed money out the door will now be forced to provide more oversight and supervision. And so they should. State Entities get 10 percent of every grant, representing millions of federal dollars, to use for such supervision. 

 We do not doubt that some applicants will still provide false information, as we found time and time again, but now as all peer-reviewed applications go online, groups such as ours will serve as watchdogs and report falsehoods and misrepresentations to the Office of the Inspector General. 

 And for all of the charter schools that are fronts for for-profit organizations, the Education Department just put a big sign on the door that says "you need not apply."…

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/07/05/new-rules-us-charter-school-program/

Right-Wing college expanding charter school network to combat 'progressive' teaching - Raw Story - Celebrating 18 Years of Independent Journalism

Hillsdale College, a small conservative undergraduate institution in southern Michigan with ties to Republican elites, is expanding its nationwide network of K-12 charter schools in an attempt to take its battle against what it calls "progressive" and "leftist academics" to an even younger audience, The New York Times reported Sunday...

https://www.rawstory.com/right-wing-college-expanding-charter-school-network-to-combat-progressive-teaching/

New report finds high closure rates for charter schools over time - The Washington Post

A comprehensive examination released Thursday of charter school failure rates between 1999 and 2017 found that more than one-quarter of the schools closed after operating for five years, and about half closed after 15 years, displacing a total of more than 867,000 students. ....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/08/06/new-report-finds-high-closure-rates-charter-schools-over-time/