Episodes

  • Alison, Liz, and Rebecca are joined by Jenifer McKenna to talk about the billion dollar crisis pregnancy center industry and its role in the anti-abortion movement. They discuss the massive harms caused by these unregulated fake clinics, Jenifer’s work on the first multi-state CPC investigation, and a new approach to exposing their unethical tactics and fighting back.

    Show Notes

    Reproductive Health & Freedom Watch

    “Designed to Deceive: A Study of the Crisis Pregnancy Center Industry in Nine States”

    Reproductive Health & Freedom Watch: Recent CPC research and analysis

    “Why is the billion-dollar unregulated pregnancy clinic industry receiving increasing taxpayer dollars?”

    “Unregulated Pregnancy Clinic Industry’s Revenue Soars to $1.7 Billion Annually”

    “Anti-Choice Leaders Are Mobilizing Thousands of Unregulated Pregnancy Clinics Against Abortion Access Ballot Initiatives”

    Jenifer McKenna’s Ms Magazine articles

    “Anti-Abortion Extremists Are Diverting Tax Dollars to Crisis Pregnancy Centers”

    “Unregulated Pregnancy Clinics Collect Health Information From Pregnant People—With No Privacy Protection”

    “Documentary ‘Preconceived’ Exposes Horrors of Crisis Pregnancy Center Industry: ‘I Came to You for Help. Why Did You Lie?’”

    Women’s Law Project

    Gender Justice

    Rewire investigation on LIFElink Carolina

    ”Preconceived” Documentary

    Cases

    NIFLA v. Becerra (2018)

    Jane Doe v. Clearway Clinic (2023)

    Four Women Health Services v. Abundant Hope Pregnancy Resource Center (2024)

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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • Alison, Liz, and Rebecca interview Sarah Posner, author and interviewer. They discuss the evolution of the Christian right, debate how to talk about Christian Nationalism, and break down the sky high stakes of this year’s election.

    Show Notes

    Sarah Posner’s Website

    Sarah’s new book: Unholy: How White Christian Nationalists Powered the Trump Presidency, and the Devastating Legacy They Left Behind

    Previous episode on Project 2025

    Anna Bower, Lawfare: “Will Georgia's New Election Rules Allow Trump to Steal the Presidency?”

    Catherine Joyce, Vanity Fair: "Behind the Catholic Right’s Celebrity-Conversion Industrial Complex"

    Previous episode with interview of Christians Against Christian Nationalism’s Amanda Tyler

    Lydia Bean, The Politics of Evangelical Identity

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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

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  • Alison, Liz, and Rebecca dig into Project 2025, the comprehensive transition project for the next conservative administration. They explain the project and illustrate the throughlines of its policy agenda— Christian nationalist ideology and the obliteration of the separation of church and state.

    Background

    SPLC on Alliance Defending Freedom

    Project 2025’s Four Pillars

    #1: Mandate for Leadership 2025: The Conservative Promise

    #2: Presidential Personnel Database & Presidential Administration Academy Questionnaire

    New York Times (2024) - “A Questionnaire for Applicants to the Next Conservative White House”

    #3: Presidential Administration Academy

    ProPublica (2024) - “Inside Project 2025’s Secret Training Videos”

    #4: 180-Day Playbook

    Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers

    U.S. Department of Education “Dear Colleague Letter”

    Resources

    AU’s Project 2025 Hub

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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • Alison, Liz, and Rebecca speak with Wisconsin State Senator Kelda Roys. They discuss what it’s like to be a nonreligious lawmaker in today’s legislative world as well as the threat of Christian Nationalism to our secular democracy and civil rights like reproductive freedom.

    Background

    Senator Kelda Roys' bio

    Congressional Freethought Caucus

    Abortion resources

    aidaccess.org

    plancpills.org

    Previous episode that discusses mifepristone

    Jessica Valenti substack

    Jill Filipovic substack



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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • Alison, Liz, and Rebecca break down the 2024 Supreme Court term. They explain how the Court decided the two cases affecting abortion access, then they explain several other decisions of the Court that massively disrupt how the government functions and shift even more power away from the people.

    Cases and Background

    Mifepristone Case - FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine

    Previous episode

    Decision

    FFRF and AA’s Amicus Brief

    AU’s Amicus Brief

    EMTALA Case - Moyle v. US

    Previous episode

    Decision

    Joint Amicus Brief

    Chevron Case - Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo

    Previous episode on regulations

    Decision

    SEC v. Jarkesy

    Corner Post v. Federal Reserve

    Presidency and Criminal Liability Case - Trump v. US

    Decision

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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • Alison, Liz, and Rebecca are joined by reproductive rights expert, political strategist, and advocate Maya Rupert. They discuss how the fight for reproductive justice is being waged post-Dobbs and why the personal has never been more political.

    Background

    When We Win with Maya Rupert

    Center For Reproductive Rights

    National Women’s Law Center

    Explanation of EMTALA

    Joint amicus brief

    Episode 30 - The Mifepristone Case at SCOTUS

    Cases

    Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022)

    Moyle v. United States (2024)

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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • Not two years after overturning Roe v. Wade, the US Supreme Court is considering a case that threatens to take the abortion pill, mifepristone, off the market. Alison, Liz, and Rebecca explain how the anti-abortion activist lawsuit started, how it got to the Court, and what we learned from the recent oral arguments.

    Background

    SCOTUSblog

    Oral arguments transcript

    FFRF’s Trump judges report

    Americans United’s amicus brief

    FFRF and AA’s joint amicus brief

    New York Times (2021) - “F.D.A. Will Permanently Allow Abortion Pills by Mail”

    FFRF’s Ask An Atheist - “Dr. Alito, What Pills Can I Take?”

    Other Links

    Episode 9 – No Victory for Religious Liberty: Discussing Coach Prayer with Rachel Laser

    AU’s Website

    FFRF’s Website

    AA’s Website

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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • Alison, Liz, and Rebecca welcome guest Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee and lead organizer of BJC’s Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign. They discuss the urgent threat that Christian nationalist ideology poses to American democracy, how nonreligious and religious Americans alike can fight back, and Amanda explains the strong historical tradition of supporting state/church separation in the Baptist movement.

    Show Notes

    Amanda Tyler’s Bio

    How to End Christian Nationalism by Amanda Tyler

    Baptist Joint Committee

    Respecting Religion Podcast

    Roger Williams Symposium: Is This a Christian Nation?

    BCJ and FFRF’s joint report “Christian Nationalism and the January 6, 2021 Insurrection”

    Christians Against Christian Nationalism

    Previous episode that talks about the Texas chaplain bill

    BJC’s "say 'no' to chaplains in public schools"

    FFRF’s 2023 Convention Panel on Christian Nationalism

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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • Join Rebecca, Alison and Liz for a journey through the history and principles behind the U.S. exempting churches from taxation! We discuss the practice of tax exemption for charitable organizations, including churches, the major cases about the constitutionality of these ideas, and abuses of the Johnson Amendment.

    Background

    History of churches and taxes

    2024 State of the Secular States report

    FFRF FAQ on churches and tax exemption

    Churchtrac - The State of Church Giving: Trends and Statistics (2024)

    IRS requirements for church audits

    Other podcasts that talk about church taxation

    Tax Chat

    Evangelicalish

    Cases

    Trinidad v. Sagrada Orden (1924)

    Walz v. Tax Commission of the City of New York (1970)

    FFRF’s IRS Cases

    FFRF v. Geithner (2014)

    FFRF v. Daniel Werfel (2014)

    Gaylor v. Mnuchin (2016)

    Nonbelief Relief v. Kautter (2019)

    Texas Monthly v. Bullock (1989)

    McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • It’s that wonderful time of year when Alison guides Rebecca and Liz through the upcoming legislative sessions in states across the country. We discuss upsetting trends in state legislation and bills we’re monitoring that affect the separation of church and state and threaten true religious liberty for everyone.

    Background and Resources

    Previous episode about the legislative process

    Previous episode about Texas

    2024 State of the Secular States report

    American Atheists State Legislation Tracker

    What you can do

    FFRF and American Atheists’ Action Alerts

    Equality Florida

    ACLU State Affiliates

    Reproductive Freedom For All

    Bills Discussed

    Religion in schools

    School chaplain bills

    Texas

    Florida

    Indiana

    Nebraska

    Alabama

    Oklahoma HB 2962: Would require the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms

    Utah HB 269: Would allow teachers to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms

    Arizona SB 1151: Would allow teachers to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms

    West Virginia SB 280: Would allow teachers to each intelligent design as a theory of how the universe came to exist

    Trans bills

    The Guardian - “Missouri is ground zero for the firehose of anti-trans legislation”

    Missouri HB1674: Would make it discrimination for a business to allow trans employees to access appropriate bathrooms

    Utah HB 257: Would make using a bathroom that does not align with one’s sex assigned at birth a criminal trespass offense

    Healthcare

    Missouri HB 1519: Prohibits discrimination against health care professionals who refuse to assist in trans healthcare

    Oklahoma SB 1729: Would recognize abortion as homicide

    Idaho HJR001: Would remove the no aid clause from the Idaho constitution

    Cases Discussed

    Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)

    Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (2022)

    Stone v. Graham (1980)

    Van Orden v. Perry (2005)

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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • Liz and Rebecca answer your burning questions on religious liberty issues and more! This episode, we reach into the mailbag and take on topics from YOU, our loyal listeners.

    Background

    FFRF’s Website

    American Atheists’ Website

    Alliance for Justice: Statement of Principles: The Biden Administration Must Prioritize Judges



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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • Alison, Liz, and Rebecca interview Anaya Gayle—lawyer, ex-Mormon, and former BYU assistant dean. They discuss the power and influence the church wields and life for LGBTQ+ students at BYU, as Anaya shares her experience inside the insular LDS community.

    Background

    More about Anaya Gayle

    Anaya's Bio

    Interview with the Human Stories podcast

    News story - “Former BYU assistant dean speaks out against Honor Code”

    BYU Honor Code controversy

    BYU Honor Code

    "The Divine Institution of Marriage": An Overview of LDS Involvement in the Proposition 8 Campaign

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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • Alison, Liz, and Rebecca are joined by Professor Marci Hamilton, legal icon and leading expert on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and extreme religious liberty. Professor Hamilton explains the origin story of RFRA, how it has led us to the emerging theocracy we face, and what Americans can do to reclaim true religious liberty before it’s too late.

    Submit a question for the holiday mailbag episode here!

    Background

    Professor Marci Hamilton’s bio

    CHILD USA, Prof. Hamilton's think tank

    FFRF’s FAQ on RFRA

    Congressional Research Service primer on RFRA

    Cases

    City of Boerne v. Flores (1997)

    Employment Division v. Smith (1990)

    Tanzin v. Tanvir (2020)

    FFRF’s amicus brief, written by Marci Hamilton

    American Atheists and Center For Inquiry’s amicus brief

    303 Creative LLC v. Elenis (2023)

    U.S. Pastor Council (Braidwood Management) v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (2023)

    Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC (2012)

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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • Alison, Liz, and Rebecca go back to school! They discuss the latest wild and crazy state/church violations in public schools reported to their organizations, the postscript on the Coach Kennedy case, and the alarming move by Oklahoma to create the first religious public school.

    Background

    Pray to Play report

    Prayer Walks and Public Schools report

    We Dissent Episode 5 – You, Coach Kennedy, are no Tim Tebow

    Complaints Discussed

    Auburn University football team baptism

    Baptism in Charlotte County Public Schools, FL

    “Jesus and Germs are Everywhere” sign in Victor Valley Union High School District, CA

    Prayer walk in Marion County Public Schools, FL

    Cases

    Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (2022)

    Liz Cavell, FFRF - “Praying coach’s actions do not alter the Constitution”

    Hiram Sasser, First Liberty - “School district that fired praying coach Joe Kennedy under investigation, again”

    Stone v. Graham (1980)

    Trinity Lutheran v. Comer (2017)

    Espinoza v. Montana Dept. of Revenue (2020)

    St. Isidore Charter School Lawsuit - OKPLAC v. Statewide Virtual Charter School Board (2023)

    Attorney General O'Connor’s December 2022 letter

    FFRF’s January 2023 memo

    Attorney General Drummond’s February 2023 letter

    Engel v. Vitale (1962)

    Resources

    American Atheists Report a Violation

    FFRF Report a Violation

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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • Alison, Liz, and Rebecca take a deep dive into Texas for a case study in theocratic government. They discuss recent Christian nationalist legislation advancing in the state, the takeover of state institutions by conservative Christian legal groups, and the many state/church battles their organizations have fought in Texas.

    Background

    Texas Monthly - “How a Right-wing Law Firm Shaped the Judge Who Will Rule on the Abortion Pill”

    The Washington Post - “Texas legislature passes bill allowing chaplains in public schools”

    Religion News Service - “More than 100 chaplains urge Texans not to hire school chaplains”

    FFRF, Americans United, and the ACLU/ACLU of Texas letter to Texas school districts

    FFRF - “Thou shalt honor our secular public schools, Texas”

    Texas Tribune - “Key supporter of Texas school chaplain bill has pushed for evangelism in schools”

    Resources

    FFRF Action Alert sign-up

    FFRF report a violation

    American Atheists report a violation

    American Atheists Action Alerts sign-up

    School Chaplain Law Advocacy Toolkit

    Interfaith Alliance “Say No to Chaplains in Public Schools” campaign page

    Bills Discussed

    HB 4949/SB 1396 and SB 19: Would allow a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text in public schools

    SB 17: Would have created the right for a public school employee to engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty

    SB 1515: Would require the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools

    SB 763: Would allow school districts to employ chaplains to perform the duties of school counselors

    Cases

    American Atheist’s Metroplex Atheists lawsuit

    FFRF’s Texas Bill of Rights display lawsuit

    FFRF’s praying judge lawsuit

    Stone v. Graham (1980)



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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • Alison, Liz, and Rebecca discuss a better vision for religious liberty with Liz Reiner Platt, director of the Law, Rights, and Religion Project, a law and policy think tank based at Columbia Law School. They talk about using religious exemptions to promote progressive social causes and issues, including the legal fight for a right to abortion based on freedom of conscience.

    Background

    Liz Reiner Platt bio

    Law, Rights, and Religion Project

    We Dissent episode about 303 Creative

    Resources

    All Faiths and None: A Guide to Protecting Religious Liberty for Everyone

    A Religious Right to Abortion: Legal History and Analysis

    Parading the Horribles: The Risk of Expanding Religious Exemptions

    Amicus Briefs

    LRRP - Dousa v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security

    LRRP “ No More Deaths” case - United States vs. Warren

    American Atheists - Tanzin v. Tanvir

    LRRP - United States v. Safehouse

    LRRP and FFRF - ​​Jane Doe v. AG of Indiana Amicus Brief

    LRRP - 303 Creative v. Elenis

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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • The Supreme Court continues to mess up civil rights for everyone. In this episode Rebecca and Liz discuss the two opinions handed down by the Supreme Court at the end of June, Groff v. DeJoy and 303 Creative v. Elenis. They recap the case, summarize the rulings, and discuss implications of the decisions.

    Background

    Groff v. DeJoy

    SCOTUS decision

    SCOTUSBlog - “Justices rule in favor of evangelical Christian postal worker”

    Vox - “The other big decision handed down by the Supreme Court today, explained”

    AA Groff v. DeJoy press release

    FFRF Groff v. DeJoy press release

    303 Creative v. Elenis

    SCOTUS Decision

    SCOTUSBlog - “Supreme Court rules website designer can decline to create same-sex wedding websites”

    Vox - “Neil Gorsuch has a problem with telling the truth”

    FFRF 303 Creative press release

    AA 303 Creative press release

    Cases

    Trans World Airlines, Inc. v. Hardison (1977)

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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • Alison, Rebecca, and Liz discuss the pending Post Office case—Groff v. DeJoy—another high-stakes case in which the Supreme Court considers how much hardship a business must bear to accommodate the religious practices of employees. They explain how the case threatens to disrupt decades of case law interpreting Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and what the oral arguments may have signaled about the potential outcome.

    Background

    SCOTUS Blog Page

    Oral arguments transcript

    Freedom From Religion Foundation’s amicus brief

    Center for Inquiry and American Atheists’ amicus brief

    SCOTUS Blog - “Justices look for common ground in postal worker’s religious liberty case”

    Vox - “The Supreme Court is unlikely to put the Christian Right in charge of your workplace — at least not yet”

    Time - “The Post Office Made a Christian Employee Work on Sundays. Now He's at the Supreme Court”

    New York Times - “Supreme Court Weighs Clash of Postal Worker’s Sabbath and Sunday Deliveries”

    Cases

    Trans World Airlines, Inc. v. Hardison (1977)

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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • Rebecca, Liz, and Alison discuss the state of state/church separation with Professor Caroline Corbin, constitutional law professor at the University of Miami. They review the history of Establishment Clause jurisprudence, remind listeners about what the Supreme Court did to the religion clauses in 2022, and discuss where we stand now in regards to rights under the First Amendment. TLDR: If you’re a Christian, rest assured it’s a “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” court.

    Background

    Professor Caroline Corbin’s bio

    The Remains of the Establishment Clause (Lupu & Tuttle, updated 2023)

    James Madison’s Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments

    Previous We Dissent episodes on Carson v. Makin

    The Sleeper Case: Carson v. Makin

    Bonus Episode! Carson v. Makin Update

    American Atheists Kennedy v. Bremerton amicus brief

    Cases

    Firewalker-Fields v. Lee (2023)

    Town of Greece v. Galloway (2014)

    Sambrano v. United Airlines (2022)

    County of Allegheny v. American Civil Liberties Union (1989)

    The American Legion v. American Humanist Association (2019)

    Stone v. Graham (1980)

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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

  • Alison, Liz, and Rebecca are joined by Katie O’Connor, Deputy Chief Counsel at Demand Justice, to discuss court reform. Katie explains how the Supreme Court and federal courts have been broken, why it’s an existential threat to our secular democracy, and how we can fix it.

    Background

    Demand Justice

    FFRF report on Trump judges

    Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States

    Legislation Discussed

    Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2023

    H.R.1 - For the People Act of 2021

    H.R.4 - John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021

    H.R.2584 - Judiciary Act of 2021

    H.R.5140 - Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act of 2021

    H.R.4886 - District Court Judgeships Act of 2021

    H.R.8936 - Circuit Court Judgeships Act of 2022

    H.R.642 - Restoring Judicial Separation of Powers Act

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    Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.