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
This is fantastic: The @americanhumanist.bsky.social is giving away $100,000 in grants to spread compassion.
They’re calling it the “American Empathy Project.”
www.americanempathyproject.org
They’re calling it the “American Empathy Project.”
www.americanempathyproject.org
American Empathy Project
www.americanempathyproject.org
February 9, 2026 at 3:12 PM
This is fantastic: The @americanhumanist.bsky.social is giving away $100,000 in grants to spread compassion.
They’re calling it the “American Empathy Project.”
www.americanempathyproject.org
They’re calling it the “American Empathy Project.”
www.americanempathyproject.org
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
Look, all I'm saying is that if you just spent the last six years being frustrated with Durbin and you think there's a chance he's about to be replaced with a guy who thanks ICE for their service and takes AIPAC and crypto money, you should treat it like a very serious emergency
PPP poll | 2/2-2/3 LV
Illinois Senate Democratic primary 2026
🟦Raja Krishamoorthi 34%
🟦Juliana Stratton 23%
🟦Robin Kelly 8%
Illinois Senate Democratic primary 2026
🟦Raja Krishamoorthi 34%
🟦Juliana Stratton 23%
🟦Robin Kelly 8%
February 9, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Look, all I'm saying is that if you just spent the last six years being frustrated with Durbin and you think there's a chance he's about to be replaced with a guy who thanks ICE for their service and takes AIPAC and crypto money, you should treat it like a very serious emergency
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
A Christian ministry spent $16 million on a Super Bowl ad (and nearly $700 million total so far) trying to rebrand Jesus.
It’s still not working.
Because the problem isn't the marketing. It's the Christians.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/the-he-get...
It’s still not working.
Because the problem isn't the marketing. It's the Christians.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/the-he-get...
The "He Gets Us" campaign has a PR problem no Super Bowl ad can solve
You can’t rebrand Jesus while ignoring the damage done by modern Christianity
www.friendlyatheist.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:23 PM
A Christian ministry spent $16 million on a Super Bowl ad (and nearly $700 million total so far) trying to rebrand Jesus.
It’s still not working.
Because the problem isn't the marketing. It's the Christians.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/the-he-get...
It’s still not working.
Because the problem isn't the marketing. It's the Christians.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/the-he-get...
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
UK Labour is a case study in what happens when you prioritize winning over actually standing for something. They chased the center-right so hard they’re basically just the Tories in red ties now.
Any time I look to see what the Labour government is up to in the UK it turns out to be things like making posters that Alfonso Cuarón put in the background of the long tracking shot that opens “Children of Men”.
February 8, 2026 at 2:23 PM
UK Labour is a case study in what happens when you prioritize winning over actually standing for something. They chased the center-right so hard they’re basically just the Tories in red ties now.
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
VA Gov. Spanberger (moderate, was in CIA) and NYC Mayor Mamdani (left, is in DSA) both taking steps to block local law enforcement from helping ICE as it violently violates people's rights is a good example of how the relevant divide in the Dem coalition isn't center-left, it's fight-don't fight.
February 6, 2026 at 6:40 PM
VA Gov. Spanberger (moderate, was in CIA) and NYC Mayor Mamdani (left, is in DSA) both taking steps to block local law enforcement from helping ICE as it violently violates people's rights is a good example of how the relevant divide in the Dem coalition isn't center-left, it's fight-don't fight.
South Carolina wants to force every public school classroom to post the Ten Commandments.
Courts have already ruled similar laws unconstitutional.
They’re doing it anyway. And using a fake James Madison quote to justify it.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/south-caro...
Courts have already ruled similar laws unconstitutional.
They’re doing it anyway. And using a fake James Madison quote to justify it.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/south-caro...
South Carolina's bill to force the Ten Commandments in school is doomed to fail
Despite clear court losses in other states, South Carolina Republicans are trying to push an unconstitutional mandate into public school classrooms
www.friendlyatheist.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:33 PM
South Carolina wants to force every public school classroom to post the Ten Commandments.
Courts have already ruled similar laws unconstitutional.
They’re doing it anyway. And using a fake James Madison quote to justify it.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/south-caro...
Courts have already ruled similar laws unconstitutional.
They’re doing it anyway. And using a fake James Madison quote to justify it.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/south-caro...
I'll be going live tonight to talk about the past week in church/state separation!
We'll be talking about the Senate race in Texas, A Satanist lawsuit in Boston, and so much more...
youtube.com/live/VwrJj50...
We'll be talking about the Senate race in Texas, A Satanist lawsuit in Boston, and so much more...
youtube.com/live/VwrJj50...
LIVE: Friendly Atheist News Roundup 2/5/2026
YouTube video by Friendly Atheist
youtube.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:29 AM
I'll be going live tonight to talk about the past week in church/state separation!
We'll be talking about the Senate race in Texas, A Satanist lawsuit in Boston, and so much more...
youtube.com/live/VwrJj50...
We'll be talking about the Senate race in Texas, A Satanist lawsuit in Boston, and so much more...
youtube.com/live/VwrJj50...
Boston can't figure out what to do with the flagpoles outside City Hall.
They already lost one religious discrimination case at the Supreme Court.
Now The Satanic Temple's lawsuit has received a green light to move forward.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/judge-refu...
They already lost one religious discrimination case at the Supreme Court.
Now The Satanic Temple's lawsuit has received a green light to move forward.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/judge-refu...
Judge refuses to toss The Satanic Temple's lawsuit, putting Boston's flag policy on trial
The city’s attempt to shut down the case has failed, which means allegations of religious favoritism and missing records are headed to the discovery phase
www.friendlyatheist.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Boston can't figure out what to do with the flagpoles outside City Hall.
They already lost one religious discrimination case at the Supreme Court.
Now The Satanic Temple's lawsuit has received a green light to move forward.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/judge-refu...
They already lost one religious discrimination case at the Supreme Court.
Now The Satanic Temple's lawsuit has received a green light to move forward.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/judge-refu...
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
as soon as you become a political correspondent in America they take you into a little room in the White House and hit you on the head with a mallet until you lose the ability to retain long-term memories.
After Trump tells NBC News he could maybe use a "softer touch" on immigration, we immediately get the "different tone" narrative from CNN.
Brianna Keilar: "A change of tone for the president. Softer touch."
David Chalian: "He acknowledged learning something that this requires a softer touch."
Brianna Keilar: "A change of tone for the president. Softer touch."
David Chalian: "He acknowledged learning something that this requires a softer touch."
February 4, 2026 at 11:14 PM
as soon as you become a political correspondent in America they take you into a little room in the White House and hit you on the head with a mallet until you lose the ability to retain long-term memories.
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
we all remember the massive protests from the past month of people holding handmade signs that say Build Safeguards Into The System
February 5, 2026 at 5:28 AM
we all remember the massive protests from the past month of people holding handmade signs that say Build Safeguards Into The System
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
Ten bullet points from chatgpt’s robo ass when this shit should be two words
Schumer & Jeffries lay out the Democratic demands for a DHS funding deal in a letter to the top Republican leaders
February 5, 2026 at 5:27 AM
Ten bullet points from chatgpt’s robo ass when this shit should be two words
A Christian substitute teacher wanted a religious exemption in order to disrespect transgender students.
The district said no.
She sued.
Now, even the appellate court is mocking her: "We readily decline [her] invitation to run the public schools."
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/court-rule...
The district said no.
She sued.
Now, even the appellate court is mocking her: "We readily decline [her] invitation to run the public schools."
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/court-rule...
Court rules against anti-trans Christian teacher who demanded right to misgender students
An appeals court ruled that Kimberly Polk's religious beliefs didn't give her license to ignore district policy or harm trans kids
www.friendlyatheist.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:25 PM
A Christian substitute teacher wanted a religious exemption in order to disrespect transgender students.
The district said no.
She sued.
Now, even the appellate court is mocking her: "We readily decline [her] invitation to run the public schools."
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/court-rule...
The district said no.
She sued.
Now, even the appellate court is mocking her: "We readily decline [her] invitation to run the public schools."
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/court-rule...
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
Naah, I want them on trial.
Democrats want commonsense reform for ICE:
End the roving patrols and racial profiling.
Take accountability and abide by the same rules as local police.
Masks need to come off, body cameras need to stay on—no secret police in the United States of America.
End the roving patrols and racial profiling.
Take accountability and abide by the same rules as local police.
Masks need to come off, body cameras need to stay on—no secret police in the United States of America.
February 4, 2026 at 4:21 AM
Naah, I want them on trial.
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
Someone said Republicans are school shooters and Democrats are the Uvalde cops and man…
Democrats want commonsense reform for ICE:
End the roving patrols and racial profiling.
Take accountability and abide by the same rules as local police.
Masks need to come off, body cameras need to stay on—no secret police in the United States of America.
End the roving patrols and racial profiling.
Take accountability and abide by the same rules as local police.
Masks need to come off, body cameras need to stay on—no secret police in the United States of America.
February 3, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Someone said Republicans are school shooters and Democrats are the Uvalde cops and man…
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
I am simultaneously so freaked out by this, and so validated
The more Epstein emails that are released, the more I'm going to understand my traumatic feminist blogger past experiences 😵💫
The more Epstein emails that are released, the more I'm going to understand my traumatic feminist blogger past experiences 😵💫
Did I get harassed into quitting blogging by Jeffrey fucking Epstein???
February 4, 2026 at 6:29 AM
I am simultaneously so freaked out by this, and so validated
The more Epstein emails that are released, the more I'm going to understand my traumatic feminist blogger past experiences 😵💫
The more Epstein emails that are released, the more I'm going to understand my traumatic feminist blogger past experiences 😵💫
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
“When facts become inconvenient, Christian Nationalists like him will never revise their theology; they’ll just try to revise history.”
Every Founding Father "would be labeled a far-right Christian Nationalist," said Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith.
He's rewriting history because facts contradict his theology.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/indianas-l...
He's rewriting history because facts contradict his theology.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/indianas-l...
Indiana’s Lt. Gov. falsely claims every Founding Father would be labeled a "far-right Christian Nationalist"
Micah Beckwith’s Christian Nationalist fantasy relies on rewriting America’s secular origins
www.friendlyatheist.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:06 PM
“When facts become inconvenient, Christian Nationalists like him will never revise their theology; they’ll just try to revise history.”
Today's @slate.com crossword is mine! With references to a wildly popular YouTube channel, a store that's disappearing, and my grades.
Do it!
slate.com/life/2026/02...
Do it!
slate.com/life/2026/02...
Slate Crossword: Never Give Up? (Four Letters)
Ready for some wordplay? Sharpen your skills with Slate’s puzzle for Feb. 3, 2026.
slate.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Today's @slate.com crossword is mine! With references to a wildly popular YouTube channel, a store that's disappearing, and my grades.
Do it!
slate.com/life/2026/02...
Do it!
slate.com/life/2026/02...
New Hampshire Republicans want to amend the state constitution to elevate Christianity above all other religions.
The change would also let towns *elect* public school teachers, presumably based on faith.
This is what theocracy looks like.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/new-hampsh...
The change would also let towns *elect* public school teachers, presumably based on faith.
This is what theocracy looks like.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/new-hampsh...
New Hampshire Republicans want to change their constitution so it favors Christianity
A proposed amendment would undo decades of church–state separation and make non-Christians second-class citizens
www.friendlyatheist.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:10 PM
New Hampshire Republicans want to amend the state constitution to elevate Christianity above all other religions.
The change would also let towns *elect* public school teachers, presumably based on faith.
This is what theocracy looks like.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/new-hampsh...
The change would also let towns *elect* public school teachers, presumably based on faith.
This is what theocracy looks like.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/new-hampsh...
Republicans in Texas are so scared of James Talarico that they’re attacking him for saying...
*checks notes*
... Jesus cared about the poor and the marginalized.
One GOP official said he's promoting "woke talking points."
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/republican...
*checks notes*
... Jesus cared about the poor and the marginalized.
One GOP official said he's promoting "woke talking points."
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/republican...
Republicans are panicking because James Talarico wants people to act more like Jesus
The Texas Democrat’s faith-based critique of Christian Nationalism is something the GOP doesn’t know how to fight
www.friendlyatheist.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Republicans in Texas are so scared of James Talarico that they’re attacking him for saying...
*checks notes*
... Jesus cared about the poor and the marginalized.
One GOP official said he's promoting "woke talking points."
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/republican...
*checks notes*
... Jesus cared about the poor and the marginalized.
One GOP official said he's promoting "woke talking points."
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/republican...
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
These people HAVE to rewrite history, because in reality, they're on the wrong side of the true one.
sbee.link/mwb8k9n3ev
sbee.link/mwb8k9n3ev
Indiana’s Lt. Gov. falsely claims every Founding Father would be labeled a "far-right Christian Nationalist"
Micah Beckwith’s Christian Nationalist fantasy relies on rewriting America’s secular origins
sbee.link
February 2, 2026 at 3:17 AM
These people HAVE to rewrite history, because in reality, they're on the wrong side of the true one.
sbee.link/mwb8k9n3ev
sbee.link/mwb8k9n3ev
This is a beautiful, honest post about the importance of @campquest.bsky.social. Check them out!
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/from-campe...
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/from-campe...
From camper to director: How Camp Quest changed my life
The secular summer camp became my answer to despair—and my way of shaping a better future
www.friendlyatheist.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:59 AM
This is a beautiful, honest post about the importance of @campquest.bsky.social. Check them out!
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/from-campe...
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/from-campe...
Reposted by Hemant Mehta
BREAKING: The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez.
Two CBP Agents Identified in Alex Pretti Shooting
The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raym...
www.propublica.org
February 1, 2026 at 9:10 PM
BREAKING: The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez.
Every Founding Father "would be labeled a far-right Christian Nationalist," said Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith.
He's rewriting history because facts contradict his theology.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/indianas-l...
He's rewriting history because facts contradict his theology.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/indianas-l...
Indiana’s Lt. Gov. falsely claims every Founding Father would be labeled a "far-right Christian Nationalist"
Micah Beckwith’s Christian Nationalist fantasy relies on rewriting America’s secular origins
www.friendlyatheist.com
February 1, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Every Founding Father "would be labeled a far-right Christian Nationalist," said Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith.
He's rewriting history because facts contradict his theology.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/indianas-l...
He's rewriting history because facts contradict his theology.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/indianas-l...