In polite company or otherwise, the Rev. Sarah Trone Garriott is very comfortable talking to people about religion and politics.
Let’s move beyond Pee-wee Herman politics
James Talarico has figured prominently in the news and on social media lately, especially so after he defeated Democratic U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the Texas Democratic primary. In the November general election, he will face either incumbent Republican U.S….
Talarico wrongly faulted for beliefs and behavior
James Talarico recently held a rally at the Waco Hippodrome. My wife and I are grateful we attended. We joined a long line of diverse Wacoans, talking excitedly as we waited to clear security and enter the theater. When Talarico…
Fact checking three things James Talarico said
James Talarico was a child when I was on the pastoral staff of his church for a year. We attended the same seminary, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. I want to look at three of the things he has said that…
How Left and Right misuse Scripture in an age of moral confusion
Editor’s note: It is BNG’s practice, when possible, to present diverse viewpoints in our opinion section. The piece below was written at the editor’s request to represent a conservative viewpoint that will resonate with readers who consider themselves centrists and…
Why are evangelicals freaking out over James Talarico?
He’s being called “Pastor Pornhub” and “the living embodiment of Satan on earth” by Christians on the religious and political right. So who is this terrifying figure? Is he a Dallas megachurch pastor who had to step aside for a…
Two pastors advance in Texas primaries
Religion played a key role in midterm primaries in Texas March 3. A Presbyterian seminarian secured the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate and will face either the incumbent, John Cornyn, a member of the Churches of Christ, or Ken Paxton,…
Jasmine Crockett addresses question of ‘electability’
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett is sharpening her case for the U.S. Senate as the Democratic primary tightens, framing her candidacy as a challenge to long-held assumptions about who can win statewide in Texas. In a recent interview at the U.S….
Talarico: ‘If you are neutral, you are taking the side of the powerful’
Progressive people of faith must demonstrate how religion can inspire opposition to Christian nationalism and the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine democracy, James Talarico said during a webinar hosted by Vote Common Good. The Democratic U.S. Senate candidate from Texas…
White faith leaders to challenge GOP in midterms
It has been decades since white Christian clergy were elected to the U.S. Congress as Democrats, but a dozen candidates are hoping to change that in this November’s midterm elections. “Democratic Party is seeing a rise of white clergy candidates,”…
Texas Senate primary pits white Social Gospel against Black Church tradition
The stage is set for a Democratic Senate primary in Texas with one candidate who is trying to convince fellow Texans to love all their neighbors and one who refuses to turn the other cheek. James Talarico is easygoing and…
Texas midterms take a twist as another pastor enters the race
A single day of cascading campaign announcements threw a prominent Baptist pastor into a race for the U.S. House of Representatives Dec. 8. Frederick Haynes III, pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, filed to run for Texas’ 30th Congressional…










