Hemant Mehta
@friendlyatheist.com
Jeopardy! champ everywhere but Canada. Writer. YouTuber. Podcaster. Mpromptu@gmail.com. (Send me story tips!) http://linktr.ee/HemantMehta
Articles at https://friendlyatheist.com
Articles at https://friendlyatheist.com
Today's @slate.com crossword is mine, with a nod to a recent death, the MCU, and how I play ball.
Go do it!
slate.com/life/2025/11...
Go do it!
slate.com/life/2025/11...
Slate Crossword: One Who Whistles While They Work? (Three Letters)
Ready for some wordplay? Sharpen your skills with Slate’s puzzle for Nov. 10, 2025.
slate.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Today's @slate.com crossword is mine, with a nod to a recent death, the MCU, and how I play ball.
Go do it!
slate.com/life/2025/11...
Go do it!
slate.com/life/2025/11...
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
Unfortunately still true bsky.app/profile/adam...
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
November 10, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Unfortunately still true bsky.app/profile/adam...
Texas is suing a school district for obeying the Constitution and not posting the Ten Commandments.
Attorney General Ken Paxton wants schools to choose between breaking state law or the First Amendment.
It's the Texas version of Christian Nationalism.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/texas-sues...
Attorney General Ken Paxton wants schools to choose between breaking state law or the First Amendment.
It's the Texas version of Christian Nationalism.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/texas-sues...
Texas sues school district for following the law and not posting the Ten Commandments
Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit against Galveston ISD shows how far Christian Nationalists will go to force their religion into public education
www.friendlyatheist.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Texas is suing a school district for obeying the Constitution and not posting the Ten Commandments.
Attorney General Ken Paxton wants schools to choose between breaking state law or the First Amendment.
It's the Texas version of Christian Nationalism.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/texas-sues...
Attorney General Ken Paxton wants schools to choose between breaking state law or the First Amendment.
It's the Texas version of Christian Nationalism.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/texas-sues...
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
Want a party that actually fights back? Run for office. We’ll help you. runforwhat.net
Run for Something
Find offices you can run for
runforwhat.net
November 10, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Want a party that actually fights back? Run for office. We’ll help you. runforwhat.net
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
Watson was deeply influential to me as a genomicist, but not how you may assume
From stealing Rosalind Franklin's lab notes to his frequent sexist & racist bioessentialist comments later in life, he showed how the scientific community would still worship a terrible person
Don't idolize bad people
From stealing Rosalind Franklin's lab notes to his frequent sexist & racist bioessentialist comments later in life, he showed how the scientific community would still worship a terrible person
Don't idolize bad people
BREAKING: James Watson, co-discoverer of DNA’s double helix whose work reshaped medicine, forensics and genetics, dies at 97.
James Watson, co-discoverer of the double-helix shape of DNA, has died at age 97
Scientist James Watson, who shared a Nobel prize for helping discover the double-helix shape of the DNA molecule, has died. He was 97.
bit.ly
November 7, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Watson was deeply influential to me as a genomicist, but not how you may assume
From stealing Rosalind Franklin's lab notes to his frequent sexist & racist bioessentialist comments later in life, he showed how the scientific community would still worship a terrible person
Don't idolize bad people
From stealing Rosalind Franklin's lab notes to his frequent sexist & racist bioessentialist comments later in life, he showed how the scientific community would still worship a terrible person
Don't idolize bad people
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
This story rules
November 8, 2025 at 12:38 PM
This story rules
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
The funny thing is that on the WaPo site, if you click on the comments section, it gives you an AI-generated summary of people's responses that is basically like "They all disagree with the paper's right-wing turn"
November 8, 2025 at 11:44 PM
The funny thing is that on the WaPo site, if you click on the comments section, it gives you an AI-generated summary of people's responses that is basically like "They all disagree with the paper's right-wing turn"
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
"The planes also don't have engines, which would need to be purchased separately."
The WSJ on how unbelievably stupid Noem and Lewandowski are.
I don’t care that I’m late to this; it’s to good to pass up.
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
I don’t care that I’m late to this; it’s to good to pass up.
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
November 9, 2025 at 12:18 AM
"The planes also don't have engines, which would need to be purchased separately."
TikToker Nikalie Monroe called dozens of churches pretending to be a mom who couldn’t afford baby formula.
Most refused to help.
The results are devastating—and revealing.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/a-tiktoker...
Most refused to help.
The results are devastating—and revealing.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/a-tiktoker...
A TikToker is exposing churches that refuse to help a hungry baby
Nikalie Monroe’s viral experiment reveals a devastating truth: Many houses of worship preach compassion but practice indifference
www.friendlyatheist.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:05 PM
TikToker Nikalie Monroe called dozens of churches pretending to be a mom who couldn’t afford baby formula.
Most refused to help.
The results are devastating—and revealing.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/a-tiktoker...
Most refused to help.
The results are devastating—and revealing.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/a-tiktoker...
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
HAPPY FOUR SEASONS TOTAL LANDSCAPING DAY TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE
November 7, 2025 at 6:44 PM
HAPPY FOUR SEASONS TOTAL LANDSCAPING DAY TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE
"Baby Priya’s Bill" ensures that grieving parents in Australia don’t lose paid leave after losing a child.
It passed easily—despite opposition from a few heartless conservative MPs who claimed it might reward abortions.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/anti-abort...
It passed easily—despite opposition from a few heartless conservative MPs who claimed it might reward abortions.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/anti-abort...
Anti-abortion conservatives in Australia tried to turn a mother’s tragedy into a political game
Baby Priya’s Bill was about dignity for parents who suffered a devastating loss. Far right politicians claimed the bill would reward those who had abortions.
www.friendlyatheist.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:12 PM
"Baby Priya’s Bill" ensures that grieving parents in Australia don’t lose paid leave after losing a child.
It passed easily—despite opposition from a few heartless conservative MPs who claimed it might reward abortions.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/anti-abort...
It passed easily—despite opposition from a few heartless conservative MPs who claimed it might reward abortions.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/anti-abort...
I'll be going live in a bit to talk about the past week in church/state separation!
We'll be talking about JD Vance’s bizarre comments about his wife, crucifixes in public schools, and so much more...
youtube.com/live/4i5RlBS...
We'll be talking about JD Vance’s bizarre comments about his wife, crucifixes in public schools, and so much more...
youtube.com/live/4i5RlBS...
LIVE: Friendly Atheist News Roundup 11/6/2025
YouTube video by Friendly Atheist
youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:09 AM
I'll be going live in a bit to talk about the past week in church/state separation!
We'll be talking about JD Vance’s bizarre comments about his wife, crucifixes in public schools, and so much more...
youtube.com/live/4i5RlBS...
We'll be talking about JD Vance’s bizarre comments about his wife, crucifixes in public schools, and so much more...
youtube.com/live/4i5RlBS...
A Houston church literally told its members to "get God’s mission accomplished" by maintaining control of a local public school board.
Voters responded by kicking out the conservative majority.
This is what fighting back looks like. 🔥
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/texas-thir...
Voters responded by kicking out the conservative majority.
This is what fighting back looks like. 🔥
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/texas-thir...
Texas’ third-largest school district just rejected Christian extremism on the board of trustees
Glorious Way Church’s public endorsements backfired as Cypress-Fairbanks ISD voters rejected the Christian Nationalist agenda
www.friendlyatheist.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:25 PM
A Houston church literally told its members to "get God’s mission accomplished" by maintaining control of a local public school board.
Voters responded by kicking out the conservative majority.
This is what fighting back looks like. 🔥
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/texas-thir...
Voters responded by kicking out the conservative majority.
This is what fighting back looks like. 🔥
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/texas-thir...
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
Why the Future of Atheism Looks Bright (Despite Everything) — with Hemant Mehta (@friendlyatheist.com) Sat, Nov 22. Doors 6:30 p.m.; talk 7–8 p.m.
A hopeful look at secular values and what’s next.
All are welcome!
A hopeful look at secular values and what’s next.
All are welcome!
November 3, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Why the Future of Atheism Looks Bright (Despite Everything) — with Hemant Mehta (@friendlyatheist.com) Sat, Nov 22. Doors 6:30 p.m.; talk 7–8 p.m.
A hopeful look at secular values and what’s next.
All are welcome!
A hopeful look at secular values and what’s next.
All are welcome!
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
I've seen this go by a few times on TikTok now and I have to say, I love this idea. We need a way to convince people to keep running even if they don't win, maybe building the loss into it as a troll move is the secret.
November 6, 2025 at 12:49 AM
I've seen this go by a few times on TikTok now and I have to say, I love this idea. We need a way to convince people to keep running even if they don't win, maybe building the loss into it as a troll move is the secret.
Non-religious voters in New York City overwhelmingly backed Mamdani over Cuomo, according to NBC News exit polls.
(*High fives all around*)
(*High fives all around*)
November 5, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Non-religious voters in New York City overwhelmingly backed Mamdani over Cuomo, according to NBC News exit polls.
(*High fives all around*)
(*High fives all around*)
A Catholic teacher put up a crucifix in her public school classroom.
She refused to take it down and eventually quit. Then she sued.
A federal judge just ruled AGAINST her.
It’s a huge win for church/state separation.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/federal-ju...
She refused to take it down and eventually quit. Then she sued.
A federal judge just ruled AGAINST her.
It’s a huge win for church/state separation.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/federal-ju...
Federal judge rules against defiant teacher who refused to remove crucifix from classroom
Marisol Arroyo-Castro’s lawsuit backfired as the court reaffirmed that public schools are not churches
www.friendlyatheist.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:23 PM
A Catholic teacher put up a crucifix in her public school classroom.
She refused to take it down and eventually quit. Then she sued.
A federal judge just ruled AGAINST her.
It’s a huge win for church/state separation.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/federal-ju...
She refused to take it down and eventually quit. Then she sued.
A federal judge just ruled AGAINST her.
It’s a huge win for church/state separation.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/federal-ju...
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
I do not think he should be mayor, but this is so much healthier of an approach to take toward a democratic election than anything we are hearing from Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo is going to leave NYC the moment he loses. Sliwa seems to truly want to stay in this great city.
November 4, 2025 at 3:39 AM
I do not think he should be mayor, but this is so much healthier of an approach to take toward a democratic election than anything we are hearing from Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo is going to leave NYC the moment he loses. Sliwa seems to truly want to stay in this great city.
A student asked JD Vance how he balances his interfaith marriage.
His answer? They're raising their kids as Christians and he hopes his Hindu wife converts.
That's not love. That's religious superiority.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/jd-vance-w...
His answer? They're raising their kids as Christians and he hopes his Hindu wife converts.
That's not love. That's religious superiority.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/jd-vance-w...
JD Vance wants his Hindu wife to convert. It’s Christian Nationalism: Home Edition.
Raising his kids Christian while hoping his wife abandons Hinduism shows how little the vice president respects religious pluralism
www.friendlyatheist.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:16 PM
A student asked JD Vance how he balances his interfaith marriage.
His answer? They're raising their kids as Christians and he hopes his Hindu wife converts.
That's not love. That's religious superiority.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/jd-vance-w...
His answer? They're raising their kids as Christians and he hopes his Hindu wife converts.
That's not love. That's religious superiority.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/jd-vance-w...
Indiana’s Lt. Governor says Zohran Mamdani is trying to "force his values" on America, violating our supposed Christian foundation.
(Mamdani's values? Affordability, childcare, and better transit.)
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/indianas-c...
(Mamdani's values? Affordability, childcare, and better transit.)
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/indianas-c...
Indiana's Christian Nationalist Lt. Gov. says Zohran Mamdani wants to “force his values” on NYC
Micah Beckwith railed against Muslim politicians while pushing his own unconstitutional brand of religious rule
www.friendlyatheist.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Indiana’s Lt. Governor says Zohran Mamdani is trying to "force his values" on America, violating our supposed Christian foundation.
(Mamdani's values? Affordability, childcare, and better transit.)
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/indianas-c...
(Mamdani's values? Affordability, childcare, and better transit.)
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/indianas-c...
The Texas Supreme Court has made it official: Judges can refuse to marry same-sex couples—because of religion—and it won't count as an ethical violation.
It's state-sanctioned discrimination, wrapped in a cross.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/texas-supr...
It's state-sanctioned discrimination, wrapped in a cross.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/texas-supr...
Texas Supreme Court says faith-based bigotry by judges doesn't violate ethics rules
The Texas Supreme Court has normalized religious discrimination in the judiciary, specifically against same-sex couples who want to get married
www.friendlyatheist.com
November 1, 2025 at 12:18 PM
The Texas Supreme Court has made it official: Judges can refuse to marry same-sex couples—because of religion—and it won't count as an ethical violation.
It's state-sanctioned discrimination, wrapped in a cross.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/texas-supr...
It's state-sanctioned discrimination, wrapped in a cross.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/texas-supr...
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
q: why did the outfielders raise their arms during this play?
a: according to the ancient scrolls in which the rules of baseball were found, if a ball lands and doesn't bounce that ball is declared god. the players were worshipping god. i doubt there will be a game 7 or any further baseball seasons
a: according to the ancient scrolls in which the rules of baseball were found, if a ball lands and doesn't bounce that ball is declared god. the players were worshipping god. i doubt there will be a game 7 or any further baseball seasons
November 1, 2025 at 3:19 AM
q: why did the outfielders raise their arms during this play?
a: according to the ancient scrolls in which the rules of baseball were found, if a ball lands and doesn't bounce that ball is declared god. the players were worshipping god. i doubt there will be a game 7 or any further baseball seasons
a: according to the ancient scrolls in which the rules of baseball were found, if a ball lands and doesn't bounce that ball is declared god. the players were worshipping god. i doubt there will be a game 7 or any further baseball seasons
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
Don't be a guy who's departure from a community immediately makes life better for everyone.
Wow. Calls to a crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ youth have decreased by 36% ever since Ryan Walters resigned from leading the Oklahoma schools.
"... We are grateful for the positive impact his departure has had on the mental well-being of our community."
www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/10/call...
"... We are grateful for the positive impact his departure has had on the mental well-being of our community."
www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/10/call...
Calls to suicide hotline decline sharply after Christian conservative resigns as education head - LGBTQ Nation
Teachers have literally been celebrating his departure.
www.lgbtqnation.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Don't be a guy who's departure from a community immediately makes life better for everyone.
Wow. Calls to a crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ youth have decreased by 36% ever since Ryan Walters resigned from leading the Oklahoma schools.
"... We are grateful for the positive impact his departure has had on the mental well-being of our community."
www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/10/call...
"... We are grateful for the positive impact his departure has had on the mental well-being of our community."
www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/10/call...
Calls to suicide hotline decline sharply after Christian conservative resigns as education head - LGBTQ Nation
Teachers have literally been celebrating his departure.
www.lgbtqnation.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Wow. Calls to a crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ youth have decreased by 36% ever since Ryan Walters resigned from leading the Oklahoma schools.
"... We are grateful for the positive impact his departure has had on the mental well-being of our community."
www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/10/call...
"... We are grateful for the positive impact his departure has had on the mental well-being of our community."
www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/10/call...
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
Feel like, as a society, we might consider moving Halloween to the last Friday in October (observed.) Vibes truly immaculate tonight.
October 31, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Feel like, as a society, we might consider moving Halloween to the last Friday in October (observed.) Vibes truly immaculate tonight.