John Thune, the evangelical Christian elected to the U.S. Senate 20 years ago from South Dakota with the help of James Dobson, announced he wants to succeed Mitch McConnell as Senate GOP leader after McConnell retires later this year. McConnell…
There’s a new religious advocacy group with ties to Patterson and Conservative Baptist Network
The latest conservative, pro-family, anti-diversity advocacy group affirmed by the James Dobson Family Institute has distinctive Southern Baptist ties and takes its name from a historic Baptist legacy traditionalists might be surprised to see on such an enterprise. In an…
More evangelical leaders on board Trump train for 2024
Growing numbers of conservative evangelical leaders are on board the Trump train as the former president chugs his way toward the 2024 GOP nomination. And those numbers could increase more now that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has dropped out of…
Jim Banks, Focus on the Family’s man in the U.S. House, opposed ‘liberal’ GOP speaker candidate Tom Emmer
Three weeks after Matt Gaetz and other House Republicans supported by “pro-family” groups voted to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Jim Banks, Focus on the Family’s man in the U.S. House, joined other pro-Trump conservatives to oppose Tom Emmer, the third…
Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom allegedly ‘manufactured’ wedding cases to battle gay rights
The powerful Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom has defended more than half a dozen businesses in lawsuits protecting them from having to serve partners in same-sex weddings. But a recent exploration of ADF’s work suggests some of its cases…
Two little-known groups are training conservative legislators and school board members
Claiming today’s conservative Republicans aren’t anywhere near conservative enough, one activist organization has been training its own brand of passionate GOP culture warriors. “You asked for better candidates — that’s why we created the Statesmen Academy,” says the Family Policy…
‘Pro-family’ groups grieve Tucker Carlson’s exit
Days after Fox News fired Tucker Carlson, its most popular on-air personality, three nonprofit organizations founded by James Dobson praised the divisive host and mourned his exit. Focus on the Family claimed the firing was a result of “spiritual warfare.”…
He Gets Us, Part 1: The men and money behind the movement
Comingling faith and football has been a feature of the NFL experience for decades, but this year’s Super Bowl included something different. A group calling itself He Gets Us tweeted: “On February 12, the world’s biggest influencer is coming to…
Colorado Springs clergy speak out against religious hate speech that leads to violence
In a city mainly known as home to highly influential evangelical ministries that preach against the LGBTQ community, more than 50 clergy have co-signed a letter calling for an end to religious hate speech. The letter from Colorado Springs, Colo.,…