Frederick Clarkson
@fredclarkson.bsky.social
Senior Research Analyst at Political Research Associates. Writer about religion & politics for four decades. Author. Editor. Public speaker. Occasional commentator. Former caregiver to my late parents.
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
I do not regret to inform you that we are going to win
NEW: Trump backs off National Guard deployments in Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland
Trump withdraws National Guard from major cities amid legal challenges
"We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form," Trump said.
www.axios.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:06 PM
I do not regret to inform you that we are going to win
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
"Norman Rockwell was antifa," his granddaughter says. (Fact check: literally true.)
www.thebulwark.com/p/norman-roc...
www.thebulwark.com/p/norman-roc...
The MAGAfication of Norman Rockwell
Trump uses the artist’s work—like other cultural icons—to promote Gestapo tactics and nativist ideas.
www.thebulwark.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:54 AM
"Norman Rockwell was antifa," his granddaughter says. (Fact check: literally true.)
www.thebulwark.com/p/norman-roc...
www.thebulwark.com/p/norman-roc...
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
Harvest Christian Fellowship waited 20 years to call police about suspected pedophile minister
julieroys.com/harvest-chri...
julieroys.com/harvest-chri...
Harvest Christian Fellowship waited 20 years to call police about suspected pedophile minister
Harvest Christian Fellowship waited nearly 20 years to report suspected child abuse by a former minister, records and former staff allege.
julieroys.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Harvest Christian Fellowship waited 20 years to call police about suspected pedophile minister
julieroys.com/harvest-chri...
julieroys.com/harvest-chri...
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
Far-right groups are co-opting the aesthetics of the Crusades for their own objectives, transforming an obsession with feudal justice into a campaign for a White Christian nation.
Why We Should All Be Worried About "Crusadercore"
This online trend equips young, White men with a historically bastardized visual lexicon — one that gives new credence and religious authority to far-right bigotry.
hyperallergic.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Far-right groups are co-opting the aesthetics of the Crusades for their own objectives, transforming an obsession with feudal justice into a campaign for a White Christian nation.
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
Why was the Trump administration surveilling one of the journalists who broke the Epstein story?
December 29, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Why was the Trump administration surveilling one of the journalists who broke the Epstein story?
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
Corruption so pungent, it wafts right off the page:
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Inside the New Fast Track to a Presidential Pardon
Even some of the president’s closest advisers have been surprised by a number of the recent series of pardons.
www.wsj.com
December 27, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Corruption so pungent, it wafts right off the page:
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
Note: Trump admin has repeatedly used this image and invoked to the story it’s meant to depict — namely, Washington praying at Valley Forge.
But historians — including the head of Washington’s own presidential library — believe the story is likely entirely made up. religionnews.com/2025/09/29/c...
But historians — including the head of Washington’s own presidential library — believe the story is likely entirely made up. religionnews.com/2025/09/29/c...
December 27, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Note: Trump admin has repeatedly used this image and invoked to the story it’s meant to depict — namely, Washington praying at Valley Forge.
But historians — including the head of Washington’s own presidential library — believe the story is likely entirely made up. religionnews.com/2025/09/29/c...
But historians — including the head of Washington’s own presidential library — believe the story is likely entirely made up. religionnews.com/2025/09/29/c...
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
sean feucht accidentally left the chatgpt prompts at the end of his post lmao
December 27, 2025 at 10:06 PM
sean feucht accidentally left the chatgpt prompts at the end of his post lmao
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
Casual reminder that the myth of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” is a cruel hoax designed to convince poor people from all walks of life that the injustices they face are a result of their own actions, rather than an oppressive system rigged against them.
December 27, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Casual reminder that the myth of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” is a cruel hoax designed to convince poor people from all walks of life that the injustices they face are a result of their own actions, rather than an oppressive system rigged against them.
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
It will also be broadcast on the BBC World Service www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
BBC World Service - A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
The traditional Christmas service of readings and carols from King's College Cambridge.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 23, 2025 at 7:09 AM
It will also be broadcast on the BBC World Service www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols will air on hundreds of public radio stations at 9 am Central on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, with a rebroadcast later that day at 7 pm Central. After that, it will be available as on-demand audio for 30 days. www.yourclassical.org/story/2025/1...
Listen to 'A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols' on Christmas Eve
YourClassical will present a live broadcast of the annual Christmas Eve service of 'A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols' from King's College, Cambridge, on Christmas Eve. Find out more about this tr...
www.yourclassical.org
December 25, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
If you want to know more about the NAR, Che Ahn and some of the folks in that Worthen "don't worry they are ok piece", let me give you some suggestions: First: @fredclarkson.bsky.social
You Might Think They're Absurd but They're Quite Serious: Frederick Clarkson on The New Apostolic Reformation
This episode discusses the broad and far-reaching implications the New Apostolic Reformation has for democracy and religious freedom.
politicalresearch.org
December 23, 2025 at 1:20 PM
If you want to know more about the NAR, Che Ahn and some of the folks in that Worthen "don't worry they are ok piece", let me give you some suggestions: First: @fredclarkson.bsky.social
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols will air on hundreds of public radio stations at 9 am Central on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, with a rebroadcast later that day at 7 pm Central. After that, it will be available as on-demand audio for 30 days. www.yourclassical.org/story/2025/1...
Listen to 'A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols' on Christmas Eve
YourClassical will present a live broadcast of the annual Christmas Eve service of 'A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols' from King's College, Cambridge, on Christmas Eve. Find out more about this tr...
www.yourclassical.org
December 23, 2025 at 7:03 AM
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols will air on hundreds of public radio stations at 9 am Central on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, with a rebroadcast later that day at 7 pm Central. After that, it will be available as on-demand audio for 30 days. www.yourclassical.org/story/2025/1...
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols will air on hundreds of public radio stations at 9 am Central on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, with a rebroadcast later that day at 7 pm Central. After that, it will be available as on-demand audio for 30 days. www.yourclassical.org/story/2025/1...
Listen to 'A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols' on Christmas Eve
YourClassical will present a live broadcast of the annual Christmas Eve service of 'A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols' from King's College, Cambridge, on Christmas Eve. Find out more about this tr...
www.yourclassical.org
December 23, 2025 at 7:03 AM
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols will air on hundreds of public radio stations at 9 am Central on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, with a rebroadcast later that day at 7 pm Central. After that, it will be available as on-demand audio for 30 days. www.yourclassical.org/story/2025/1...
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
Weiss touted El Salvador’s brutal leader while her blog published jokes about Trump sending immigrants to the CECOT prison. She has also joked about torture of prisoners.
Bari Weiss Praised El Salvador’s Dictator Before Spiking '60 Minutes' Story on His Torture Prison
Weiss touted El Salvador’s brutal leader while her blog published jokes about Trump sending immigrants to the CECOT prison.
open.substack.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Weiss touted El Salvador’s brutal leader while her blog published jokes about Trump sending immigrants to the CECOT prison. She has also joked about torture of prisoners.
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
Bari Weiss does not seem to have a good understanding of what's been going on with the Alien Enemies Act, including that courts -- including SCOTUS -- have repeatedly faulted the administration for failing to give detainees a meaningful opportunity to challenge being sent to El Salvador.
December 22, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Bari Weiss does not seem to have a good understanding of what's been going on with the Alien Enemies Act, including that courts -- including SCOTUS -- have repeatedly faulted the administration for failing to give detainees a meaningful opportunity to challenge being sent to El Salvador.
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
CBS didn't run the 60 Minutes segment on CECOT, but over here at @propublica.org we've been working on the story since March, including finding out who each and every man sent to that maximum security prison was.
You can see our reporting here: www.propublica.org/series/depor...
You can see our reporting here: www.propublica.org/series/depor...
Deported and Imprisoned Archives
A case-by-case investigation that examines the Trump administration’s claims that these immigrants are all “sick criminals” and “terrorists” and that shows what they suffered during months in one of t...
www.propublica.org
December 22, 2025 at 4:08 PM
CBS didn't run the 60 Minutes segment on CECOT, but over here at @propublica.org we've been working on the story since March, including finding out who each and every man sent to that maximum security prison was.
You can see our reporting here: www.propublica.org/series/depor...
You can see our reporting here: www.propublica.org/series/depor...
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
Who inherits the Seven Mountains Mandate after Charlie Kirk? - My new piece for @rns.org religionnews.com/2025/12/19/w...
Who inherits the Seven Mountains Mandate after Charlie Kirk?
(RNS) — Kirk's Turning Point USA has gone far beyond its student roots and is now indispensable for the evangelical mandate movement.
religionnews.com
December 20, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
Hegseth's monthly Pentagon prayer services during working hours violate the Constitution & military regs.
"Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said servicemembers are being 'voluntold' to attend Hegseth's worship sessions." www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
"Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said servicemembers are being 'voluntold' to attend Hegseth's worship sessions." www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
Pete Hegseth pushes his Christian faith in Pentagon prayer services
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced monthly worship services at the Pentagon. He wants to reject 'secular humanism' and 'new age notions.'
www.usatoday.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Hegseth's monthly Pentagon prayer services during working hours violate the Constitution & military regs.
"Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said servicemembers are being 'voluntold' to attend Hegseth's worship sessions." www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
"Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said servicemembers are being 'voluntold' to attend Hegseth's worship sessions." www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
📽️ WATCH: After a bird flu outbreak tore through Midwestern barns, which led to 18 million hens being killed and a spike in egg prices, the Department of Agriculture didn’t investigate whether the virus was airborne.
But ProPublica did.
@natlash.bsky.social breaks it down: propub.li/4iVcYfD
But ProPublica did.
@natlash.bsky.social breaks it down: propub.li/4iVcYfD
December 14, 2025 at 2:43 AM
📽️ WATCH: After a bird flu outbreak tore through Midwestern barns, which led to 18 million hens being killed and a spike in egg prices, the Department of Agriculture didn’t investigate whether the virus was airborne.
But ProPublica did.
@natlash.bsky.social breaks it down: propub.li/4iVcYfD
But ProPublica did.
@natlash.bsky.social breaks it down: propub.li/4iVcYfD
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
The White Supremacist Origins of the Constitutional Sheriff | These sheriffs' ideological foundation in Christian white supremacist movements reveals a great deal about the anti-liberal vision of America into which Trump has breathed new life, reports @barnraiser.bsky.social.
The White Supremacist Origins of the Constitutional Sheriff - Bucks County Beacon
These sheriffs' ideological foundation in Christian white supremacist movements reveals a great deal about the anti-liberal vision of America into which Trump has breathed new life.
buckscountybeacon.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:05 PM
The White Supremacist Origins of the Constitutional Sheriff | These sheriffs' ideological foundation in Christian white supremacist movements reveals a great deal about the anti-liberal vision of America into which Trump has breathed new life, reports @barnraiser.bsky.social.
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
We are seeing religious communities traumatized with armed state power in a manner reminiscent of the traumatic European wars of religion.
Modern liberalism is largely how Europe healed itself from that trauma, with religious freedom and prohibition of torture as two of the main elements. 1/10
Modern liberalism is largely how Europe healed itself from that trauma, with religious freedom and prohibition of torture as two of the main elements. 1/10
“Faith leaders have been beaten, arrested, even shot with “less lethal” weapons, and church attendance has fallen significantly—by more than 50% in Spanish-speaking parishes in one Catholic diocese. But now there’s a plan to target Spanish-speaking churches nationwide during the holiday season”
Trump's War On Christmas Is A War On Liberalism
After decades of make-believe, the Trump administration is promising an actual war on Christmas that would traumatize religious communities with armed state power.
www.liberalcurrents.com
December 12, 2025 at 1:44 PM
We are seeing religious communities traumatized with armed state power in a manner reminiscent of the traumatic European wars of religion.
Modern liberalism is largely how Europe healed itself from that trauma, with religious freedom and prohibition of torture as two of the main elements. 1/10
Modern liberalism is largely how Europe healed itself from that trauma, with religious freedom and prohibition of torture as two of the main elements. 1/10
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
"The takedowns and restrictions began in October and targeted the Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp accounts of more than 50 organisations worldwide ... in what appears to be a growing push by Meta to limit reproductive health and queer content across its platforms."
Meta shuts down global accounts linked to abortion advice and queer content
More than 50 organisations report sites being restricted or removed, with abortion hotlines blocked and posts showing non-explicit nudity triggering warnings
www.theguardian.com
December 11, 2025 at 12:14 PM
"The takedowns and restrictions began in October and targeted the Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp accounts of more than 50 organisations worldwide ... in what appears to be a growing push by Meta to limit reproductive health and queer content across its platforms."
Reposted by Frederick Clarkson
"The Myth of the Constitutional Sheriff"
While ICE is the face of Trump's lawlessness masquerading as law, ICE isn't the key to how got here.
Sheriffs are.
Sheriffs empowered by myths.
3 Experts help unravel their deep roots & bitter fruits. 1/
barnraisingmedia.com/the-myth-of-...
While ICE is the face of Trump's lawlessness masquerading as law, ICE isn't the key to how got here.
Sheriffs are.
Sheriffs empowered by myths.
3 Experts help unravel their deep roots & bitter fruits. 1/
barnraisingmedia.com/the-myth-of-...
The Myth of the Constitutional Sheriff
How Richard Mack led the rise off the constitutional sheriff movement, one of the most serious threats to American democracy since the Civil War.
barnraisingmedia.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:36 PM
"The Myth of the Constitutional Sheriff"
While ICE is the face of Trump's lawlessness masquerading as law, ICE isn't the key to how got here.
Sheriffs are.
Sheriffs empowered by myths.
3 Experts help unravel their deep roots & bitter fruits. 1/
barnraisingmedia.com/the-myth-of-...
While ICE is the face of Trump's lawlessness masquerading as law, ICE isn't the key to how got here.
Sheriffs are.
Sheriffs empowered by myths.
3 Experts help unravel their deep roots & bitter fruits. 1/
barnraisingmedia.com/the-myth-of-...