David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
@daviddecosse.bsky.social
I'm Director of Religious and Catholic Ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, the Jesuit university in Silicon Valley. Keen interests in the moral and theological dimensions of politics and policy.
Hey progressives - let's not consume ourselves with purity tests divorced from public opinion: the tried and true way to blow the opportunity to develop a big coalition across a lot of difference that can sustain political change for years. In any case, Newsom has more fight than a lot of the left.
February 10, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Hey progressives - let's not consume ourselves with purity tests divorced from public opinion: the tried and true way to blow the opportunity to develop a big coalition across a lot of difference that can sustain political change for years. In any case, Newsom has more fight than a lot of the left.
Reposted by David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
While the billionaires kowtow and look the other way, actual patriots recognize their responsibility to speak out and assert right from wrong.
US Olympic Curling Team member speaks out against ICE:
"I'm proud to represent Team USA. But we'd be remiss if we didn't mention what's going on in Minnesota and what a tough time it's been. What's happening is wrong. There's no shades of gray."
"I'm proud to represent Team USA. But we'd be remiss if we didn't mention what's going on in Minnesota and what a tough time it's been. What's happening is wrong. There's no shades of gray."
February 10, 2026 at 10:13 PM
While the billionaires kowtow and look the other way, actual patriots recognize their responsibility to speak out and assert right from wrong.
Blanche has got to be the most unethical lawyer in the US...
February 10, 2026 at 1:05 AM
Blanche has got to be the most unethical lawyer in the US...
Given events of the past week (which follow on many similar events), it is important to say it publicly and to own it: The president is a racist.
February 8, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Given events of the past week (which follow on many similar events), it is important to say it publicly and to own it: The president is a racist.
A great piece by @jeanguerre.bsky.social on salvation by salsa (and reggaeton, etc): If we can just get ourselves to the dance floor with Bad Bunny, we can discover that we have hips that move and that "before we are red or blue, citizen or immigrant, we are bodies that bleed and sweat and dance."
I launched a Substack with an essay about Bad Bunny—the man who saved my career as a journalist. Ahead of the Super Bowl, read about why Trump and MAGA see him as a threat.
open.substack.com/pub/ourunsil...
open.substack.com/pub/ourunsil...
How Bad Bunny Became America's Most Dangerous Artist
The Puerto Rican singer saved my career as a journalist covering authoritarianism. Now, his Super Bowl show could break MAGA.
open.substack.com
February 7, 2026 at 9:46 PM
A great piece by @jeanguerre.bsky.social on salvation by salsa (and reggaeton, etc): If we can just get ourselves to the dance floor with Bad Bunny, we can discover that we have hips that move and that "before we are red or blue, citizen or immigrant, we are bodies that bleed and sweat and dance."
Reposted by David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
1. It was not an accident.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
February 6, 2026 at 5:42 PM
1. It was not an accident.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
Excellent piece by economist Oren Cass on how the financialization of our economy is destroying our economy.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...
Opinion | The Finance Industry Is a Grift. Let’s Start Treating It That Way.
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Excellent piece by economist Oren Cass on how the financialization of our economy is destroying our economy.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...
Thanks for your great work on this, Greg. I think opposition to ICE tactics shows support for lasting immigration reform Trump/Miller know this and know the only way they can achieve their vision of America is through violence, not the political process. They use politics to destroy politics.
February 5, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Thanks for your great work on this, Greg. I think opposition to ICE tactics shows support for lasting immigration reform Trump/Miller know this and know the only way they can achieve their vision of America is through violence, not the political process. They use politics to destroy politics.
Reposted by David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
Reposted by David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
This is hilarious!! 🤣 🤣
January 29, 2026 at 1:35 PM
This is hilarious!! 🤣 🤣
Excellent piece by @jeanguerre.bsky.social that persuasively explains and reframes the tech-Trump-network state forces behind our current politics.
In Honduras, the American Right Is Piloting Our Future www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/o...
In Honduras, the American Right Is Piloting Our Future www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/o...
Opinion | In Honduras, the American Right Is Piloting Our Future
www.nytimes.com
January 29, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Excellent piece by @jeanguerre.bsky.social that persuasively explains and reframes the tech-Trump-network state forces behind our current politics.
In Honduras, the American Right Is Piloting Our Future www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/o...
In Honduras, the American Right Is Piloting Our Future www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/o...
Reposted by David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
This is the BEST explanation I have seen so far.
January 28, 2026 at 3:12 AM
This is the BEST explanation I have seen so far.
Inspired by the sacrifices (even the ultimate sacrifice) and nonviolence of the great people of Minnesota, I find myself thinking more and more: Why should I - why should any of us - not have to fight for our country the way that brave people of past generations did? This is our time. j
January 27, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Inspired by the sacrifices (even the ultimate sacrifice) and nonviolence of the great people of Minnesota, I find myself thinking more and more: Why should I - why should any of us - not have to fight for our country the way that brave people of past generations did? This is our time. j
Reposted by David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
Reposted by David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
A video of Alex Pretti reading out the final salute of an unnamed veteran he cared for until the end of his life in the ICU, posted to Facebook by his son.
January 25, 2026 at 1:18 AM
A video of Alex Pretti reading out the final salute of an unnamed veteran he cared for until the end of his life in the ICU, posted to Facebook by his son.
An excellent piece on why the St. Paul church protest was a violation of the First Amendment and ethically wrong (and an own goal by the opposition to ICE):
expression.fire.org/p/anti-ice-p...
expression.fire.org/p/anti-ice-p...
Anti-ICE protesters disrupted worship in a Minnesota church. Here’s why the First Amendment doesn’t protect their actions.
Recent events in Minnesota — where anti-ICE protesters interrupted a service at Cities Church in St.
expression.fire.org
January 24, 2026 at 5:14 PM
An excellent piece on why the St. Paul church protest was a violation of the First Amendment and ethically wrong (and an own goal by the opposition to ICE):
expression.fire.org/p/anti-ice-p...
expression.fire.org/p/anti-ice-p...
Here's a piece of mine on powerful comments by Archbishop Broglio on conscience and the military and the implications of such comments for the Catholic response to political authoritarianism: www.ncronline.org/opinion/arch...
Archbishop Broglio's comments on conscience exemplify Catholic morality
Military Archbishop Timothy Broglio's recent statements on conscientious objection demonstrate the relevance of Catholic moral teaching for Catholics who oppose authoritarianism, writes David E. DeCos...
www.ncronline.org
January 23, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Here's a piece of mine on powerful comments by Archbishop Broglio on conscience and the military and the implications of such comments for the Catholic response to political authoritarianism: www.ncronline.org/opinion/arch...
I hope Leo calls him in for a hard discussion and possible discipline - not because Barron is conservative but because his partisan judgment is a scandal to the people of God.
January 23, 2026 at 2:46 AM
I hope Leo calls him in for a hard discussion and possible discipline - not because Barron is conservative but because his partisan judgment is a scandal to the people of God.
Reposted by David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
Brooklyn Park police chief Mark Bruley: "We're hearing people being stopped with no cause & being demanded to show paperwork to determine if they're here legally. We started hearing from our police officers the same complaints. Every one of these individuals is a person of color... it has to stop"
January 20, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Brooklyn Park police chief Mark Bruley: "We're hearing people being stopped with no cause & being demanded to show paperwork to determine if they're here legally. We started hearing from our police officers the same complaints. Every one of these individuals is a person of color... it has to stop"
This is such an own-goal by progressives: It's driven by the same dumb logic of cancel culture. C'mon, fellow progressives: let's get with the program and start realizing that coercing people in contexts of worship and speech is always wrong - and a big loser.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/u...
Protest at Minnesota Church Service Adds to Tensions Over ICE Tactics
www.nytimes.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:05 AM
This is such an own-goal by progressives: It's driven by the same dumb logic of cancel culture. C'mon, fellow progressives: let's get with the program and start realizing that coercing people in contexts of worship and speech is always wrong - and a big loser.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/u...
Reposted by David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
VERY significant interview (yesterday) with 𝙐.𝙎. 𝘼𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙗𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙮 𝘽𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙤.
He discusses 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gCg...
He discusses 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gCg...
January 19, 2026 at 8:47 PM
VERY significant interview (yesterday) with 𝙐.𝙎. 𝘼𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙗𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙮 𝘽𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙤.
He discusses 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gCg...
He discusses 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gCg...
In recognition of MLK Day, here's a great essay by Santa Clara U senior Gabrielle Pitre on exploring what it means to be Gen Z, Black, and Catholic by turning to her family's deep roots of faith in the Louisiana past.
www.americamagazine.org/features/202...
www.americamagazine.org/features/202...
Black, Catholic and Gen Z: In searching for my roots, I found Pope Leo in my past
If this is the case, it means I share ancestry with Pope Leo XIV through my great-grandmother Eugenie Lemelle’s paternal lineage going back to where I started the story of my ancestry in this piece—Ma...
www.americamagazine.org
January 19, 2026 at 8:41 PM
In recognition of MLK Day, here's a great essay by Santa Clara U senior Gabrielle Pitre on exploring what it means to be Gen Z, Black, and Catholic by turning to her family's deep roots of faith in the Louisiana past.
www.americamagazine.org/features/202...
www.americamagazine.org/features/202...
Great pass but total push-off and offensive pass interference by the Bears' receiver who caught the touchdown. I say the refs should let things go when it's iffy and at the end of the game. But they blew that one: an obvious penalty...even if it was a great pass.
January 19, 2026 at 5:58 AM
Great pass but total push-off and offensive pass interference by the Bears' receiver who caught the touchdown. I say the refs should let things go when it's iffy and at the end of the game. But they blew that one: an obvious penalty...even if it was a great pass.
Thanks so much again, Greg, for all over this stuff. I also see the Trump/Miller effort now and its reliance on brutality as a clear choice in opposition to an actual political solution to immigration. They don't have the votes for their white nationalist dream. So force is the only way.
January 19, 2026 at 2:35 AM
Thanks so much again, Greg, for all over this stuff. I also see the Trump/Miller effort now and its reliance on brutality as a clear choice in opposition to an actual political solution to immigration. They don't have the votes for their white nationalist dream. So force is the only way.
Almost always don't agree with Douthat but really disagree with the take that he's completely dishonest. Moreover, look at what he says: he disagrees with the current ICE policy/practice. I think the left has to listen carefully to critics like Douthat: Doing so will get us back to a majority.
January 19, 2026 at 2:33 AM
Almost always don't agree with Douthat but really disagree with the take that he's completely dishonest. Moreover, look at what he says: he disagrees with the current ICE policy/practice. I think the left has to listen carefully to critics like Douthat: Doing so will get us back to a majority.