“I’m just a regular guy,” Speaker of the House Mike Johnson told Katie Miller with his wife, Kelly, sitting next to him for the Katie Miller Podcast. “We’re simple people,” Johnson later added as the couple discussed everything from how…
House Republicans will pray to solve the problem they created
The House Freedom Caucus has announced a prayer meeting to seek God’s help solving a problem they created themselves. How ironic. Today’s prayer meeting was called, in part, to ask for divine intervention on the government shutdown, now in its…
In conversation with Matthew Boedy
Matthew Boedy is a professor of rhetoric and composition at the University of North Georgia, a leading expert on Turning Point USA and its founder, Charlie Kirk, and the author of an important and alarming new book The Seven Mountains…
‘Justice’ and ‘transparency’ with caveats? Epstein victims deserve better
In August 2017, author Michael Wolff conducted research for his book Fire and Fury. He spoke at considerable length with Jeffrey Epstein. On Aug. 10, 2019, the notorious sexual predator was found dead in his prison cell. Authorities ruled his…
American politics: Where courage goes to die
Since Donald Trump returned to power Jan. 20, I have watched people and institutions cave to demands of the president. Are we witnessing a growing tribe of neo-cowards? Has cowardice become a political necessity? As the Master of Wakefield asked,…
How a tribal religion of a tribal god is in charge in America
I am in a state of theological outrage. It has to do with how Donald Trump’s narrow escape from an assassin’s bullet has been used to claim divine intervention to save his life, a claim that no doubt aided his…
US may follow states in funding for crisis pregnancy centers
Red state legislatures are spending more tax dollars on faith-based anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers, and federal funding may soon follow. Meanwhile, Texas is increasing oversight of wasteful state-funded centers, and a Massachusetts lawsuit over botched diagnosis could slow the movement’s…
Johnson gives ‘glory to God’ for Trump’s big bill but others say God is mocked
While Speaker of the House Mike Johnson gave glory to God for final passage of the “big beautiful bill,” other religious leaders decried the legislation as un-Christian, un-American, evil and dangerous. On July 3, after the House passed the bill…
On drowning Anabaptists and tarring/feathering governors
Baptist scholar William R. Estep wrote in 1963: “If the Anabaptists teach us anything, it is that those who fear freedom and court the governments of this world in the interest of a more moral or ‘Christian’ state are placing…
Mike Johnson violates spirit of congressional chapel
As Mike Johnson ascended to the House of Representative speaker’s chair in October 2023, he quickly showed off his evangelical Christian faith. He led the GOP caucus in prayer at a press conference, declared during his acceptance remarks in the House chamber that God…
A visual guide to the elected officials who fly Christian nationalist flags at the Capitol
Earlier this month I attended the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s Advocacy in Action in Washington, D.C. On the fourth day of the gathering we headed to Capitol Hill to meet with our various representatives. On the walk to the six buildings…
House Speaker Mike Johnson rooms with DC-based Christian activist
After his long days leading the U.S. House of Representatives, Speaker Mike Johnson retires to a nearby D.C. townhouse owned by a small activist Christian ministry that works to shape legislation on LGBTQ rights, Israel, the downsizing of the federal…