Rebecca Bratten Weiss
@rbratten.bsky.social
Editor and journalist residing in the Appalachian region of Ohio. Writes about religion, culture, justice issues. Raised to be a prepper / homesteader and lived in some religious cults. Now trying to survive in another one, on a national scale.
'The Books That Made Us' comes out in a week. If you are recovering from having been "educated" in a conservative academic subculture, you may find it relatable.
Link to order below.
Link to order below.
October 23, 2025 at 2:11 AM
'The Books That Made Us' comes out in a week. If you are recovering from having been "educated" in a conservative academic subculture, you may find it relatable.
Link to order below.
Link to order below.
This regime is such a grotesque inversion of actual gospel values and multiple people I know who are pious churchgoers are cheering it on.
Earlier this year, we published an article headlined “10 Ways to Enrich the Trumps and the MAGA Movement.”
We failed, though, to consider that the president might simply force the US government, i.e. us taxpayers, to straight-up pay him hundreds of millions of dollars.
We failed, though, to consider that the president might simply force the US government, i.e. us taxpayers, to straight-up pay him hundreds of millions of dollars.
Report: Trump demands taxpayers hand him $230 million
Is it still "ridiculous that anyone would even suggest" that he's cashing in?
www.motherjones.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:06 AM
This regime is such a grotesque inversion of actual gospel values and multiple people I know who are pious churchgoers are cheering it on.
This is what he's doing to everything. But it wouldn't have been possible without the millions of you who put him in power. Really great job folks.
The White House is asking people not to share pictures of the East Wing because it’s even worse today.
October 22, 2025 at 12:20 AM
This is what he's doing to everything. But it wouldn't have been possible without the millions of you who put him in power. Really great job folks.
I was grateful to have the chance to read this book as part of my ongoing informal project of understanding why people get sucked into fascism.
Aside from the book offering several essential puzzle-pieces, it also illuminated aspects of arts cultures and subcultures of the 20th century.
Aside from the book offering several essential puzzle-pieces, it also illuminated aspects of arts cultures and subcultures of the 20th century.
“Even for those without a stake in yoga, @stewarthome.bsky.social’s book is enlightening. Recognizing elements of fascism in yoga culture can help clarify how fascism finds a toehold in other communities, including Christian ones.”
– review by @rbratten.bsky.social
@plutopress.bsky.social
– review by @rbratten.bsky.social
@plutopress.bsky.social
What does White Christian nationalism have to do with yoga?
In his new book, Stewart Home analyzes the wellness-to-fascism...
www.christiancentury.org
October 19, 2025 at 6:41 PM
I was grateful to have the chance to read this book as part of my ongoing informal project of understanding why people get sucked into fascism.
Aside from the book offering several essential puzzle-pieces, it also illuminated aspects of arts cultures and subcultures of the 20th century.
Aside from the book offering several essential puzzle-pieces, it also illuminated aspects of arts cultures and subcultures of the 20th century.
Reposted by Rebecca Bratten Weiss
“Even for those without a stake in yoga, @stewarthome.bsky.social’s book is enlightening. Recognizing elements of fascism in yoga culture can help clarify how fascism finds a toehold in other communities, including Christian ones.”
– review by @rbratten.bsky.social
@plutopress.bsky.social
– review by @rbratten.bsky.social
@plutopress.bsky.social
What does White Christian nationalism have to do with yoga?
In his new book, Stewart Home analyzes the wellness-to-fascism...
www.christiancentury.org
October 9, 2025 at 2:11 PM
“Even for those without a stake in yoga, @stewarthome.bsky.social’s book is enlightening. Recognizing elements of fascism in yoga culture can help clarify how fascism finds a toehold in other communities, including Christian ones.”
– review by @rbratten.bsky.social
@plutopress.bsky.social
– review by @rbratten.bsky.social
@plutopress.bsky.social
Insomnia is back for the first time in years.
I can’t not believe how hard it is to sleep when you’re watching your country, be dismantled by the dumbest people.
October 5, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Insomnia is back for the first time in years.
'The Books That Made Us' is available for pre-order.
Part memoir, part literary criticism, part theological analysis, it's a journey of religious deconstruction through the modern Christian classics: the writings of Chesterton, Eliot, Lewis, Tolkien, O'Connor, etc.
Links to order below.
Part memoir, part literary criticism, part theological analysis, it's a journey of religious deconstruction through the modern Christian classics: the writings of Chesterton, Eliot, Lewis, Tolkien, O'Connor, etc.
Links to order below.
August 24, 2025 at 2:54 PM
'The Books That Made Us' is available for pre-order.
Part memoir, part literary criticism, part theological analysis, it's a journey of religious deconstruction through the modern Christian classics: the writings of Chesterton, Eliot, Lewis, Tolkien, O'Connor, etc.
Links to order below.
Part memoir, part literary criticism, part theological analysis, it's a journey of religious deconstruction through the modern Christian classics: the writings of Chesterton, Eliot, Lewis, Tolkien, O'Connor, etc.
Links to order below.
I have issues with some things Mamdani has said but I have bigger issues with Cuomo's actual behavior. Either way this point stands. Among conservative catholics I encountered many people who fetishized the Ideal Jew while spreading hate about real live Jews in the world today.
In a Christian society, a philosemitic defense of The Jew as idealized figure can all too easily coexist with disdain for most actual Jews who fail to live up to that standard.
WITH AUDIO ⬇️
At the Hampton Synagogue this morning, Andrew Cuomo blames Zohran Mamdani’s young, Jewish and pro-Palestinian voters for his primary loss.
forward.com/fast-forward...
At the Hampton Synagogue this morning, Andrew Cuomo blames Zohran Mamdani’s young, Jewish and pro-Palestinian voters for his primary loss.
forward.com/fast-forward...
July 21, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I have issues with some things Mamdani has said but I have bigger issues with Cuomo's actual behavior. Either way this point stands. Among conservative catholics I encountered many people who fetishized the Ideal Jew while spreading hate about real live Jews in the world today.
Reposted by Rebecca Bratten Weiss
Well, I had an interesting Sunday night, how 'bout you?
🧵
NY-17 Rep. Mike Lawler had a local social worker physically dragged out of his town hall Sunday night.
Emily Feiner was singled out by private security, lifted out of her seat, as the crowd chanted “let her stay” and “shame, shame.”
She’s a constituent.
Not a threat.
Fascism again.
NY-17 Rep. Mike Lawler had a local social worker physically dragged out of his town hall Sunday night.
Emily Feiner was singled out by private security, lifted out of her seat, as the crowd chanted “let her stay” and “shame, shame.”
She’s a constituent.
Not a threat.
Fascism again.
May 5, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Well, I had an interesting Sunday night, how 'bout you?
Reposted by Rebecca Bratten Weiss
Pay attention, headline writers: THIS is a proper headline. State what happened just as you would if it were any other gang of thugs, without parroting government euphemisms or excuses.
May 1, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Pay attention, headline writers: THIS is a proper headline. State what happened just as you would if it were any other gang of thugs, without parroting government euphemisms or excuses.
I'm grateful for Pope Francis' 12 years of leadership. He had a good life and a good death. I know many catholics are worried that his successor will be more conservative, but the fact is, Francis himself was pretty conservative on some issues. Especially to do with women and LGBTQ issues.
“After the new pope’s first address to the world was over, the thought foremost in my mind was, ‘This could change everything.’ Melodramatic, maybe, but that’s how I felt.”
– @rbratten.bsky.social
www.christiancentury.org/features/mou...
– @rbratten.bsky.social
www.christiancentury.org/features/mou...
Mourning Pope Francis—and his limits
As a progressive Catholic, I admired Francis. As a woman and a feminist, I was often disappointed by...
www.christiancentury.org
April 25, 2025 at 9:06 PM
I'm grateful for Pope Francis' 12 years of leadership. He had a good life and a good death. I know many catholics are worried that his successor will be more conservative, but the fact is, Francis himself was pretty conservative on some issues. Especially to do with women and LGBTQ issues.
I know he's dumb but I also can see him doing it on purpose just to taunt us for having standards.
Because one time wasn’t enough:
“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared detailed information about forthcoming strikes in Yemen on March 15 in a private Signal group chat that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer”
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/u...
“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared detailed information about forthcoming strikes in Yemen on March 15 in a private Signal group chat that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer”
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/u...
Hegseth Said to Have Shared Attack Details in Second Signal Chat
The defense secretary sent sensitive information about strikes in Yemen to an encrypted group chat that included his wife and brother, people familiar with the matter said.
www.nytimes.com
April 21, 2025 at 4:56 AM
I know he's dumb but I also can see him doing it on purpose just to taunt us for having standards.
Consequences can happen.
it's important this go as viral as the original story for morale purposes if nothing else. despite the image they project these people are NOT unaccountable. consequences CAN be forced. focused anger and outrage MATTERS.
oh hey welcome to your trial, blackshirts
April 21, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Consequences can happen.
As far as I can tell, the ivermectin-slurping, essential-oil-hawking MAGAs think this is great.
Because they don't understand how much they rely on science for things they take for granted in daily life.
Including every time the essential oils didn't work and they ended up in hospital for weeks.
Because they don't understand how much they rely on science for things they take for granted in daily life.
Including every time the essential oils didn't work and they ended up in hospital for weeks.
April 20, 2025 at 3:27 PM
As far as I can tell, the ivermectin-slurping, essential-oil-hawking MAGAs think this is great.
Because they don't understand how much they rely on science for things they take for granted in daily life.
Including every time the essential oils didn't work and they ended up in hospital for weeks.
Because they don't understand how much they rely on science for things they take for granted in daily life.
Including every time the essential oils didn't work and they ended up in hospital for weeks.
Amidst everything else going on, a minor quibble: I'm weary of writers who have been successful for years chide us that "we write for love, not to get rich."
I'm not trying to get rich, Ms. Italy Vacation. I just want to be able to afford my eventual cremation without piling more debt on my kids.
I'm not trying to get rich, Ms. Italy Vacation. I just want to be able to afford my eventual cremation without piling more debt on my kids.
April 20, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Amidst everything else going on, a minor quibble: I'm weary of writers who have been successful for years chide us that "we write for love, not to get rich."
I'm not trying to get rich, Ms. Italy Vacation. I just want to be able to afford my eventual cremation without piling more debt on my kids.
I'm not trying to get rich, Ms. Italy Vacation. I just want to be able to afford my eventual cremation without piling more debt on my kids.
Personally, I think it should be front page news for at least a month if a sitting US President is using falsified evidence to try and deny due process to a man who has committed no crime, but that’s just me
April 20, 2025 at 1:20 AM
I'm sure a lot of crunchy fash types will say, "No worries, I grow my own!"
Because they do not care about anyone but themselves.
Also, that demographic is notorious for having no hygiene / safety standards. The "fresh poo on the lettuce beds" approach to gardening.
Because they do not care about anyone but themselves.
Also, that demographic is notorious for having no hygiene / safety standards. The "fresh poo on the lettuce beds" approach to gardening.
US FDA suspends food safety quality checks after staff cuts reut.rs/42C4h1Z
April 18, 2025 at 10:52 PM
I'm sure a lot of crunchy fash types will say, "No worries, I grow my own!"
Because they do not care about anyone but themselves.
Also, that demographic is notorious for having no hygiene / safety standards. The "fresh poo on the lettuce beds" approach to gardening.
Because they do not care about anyone but themselves.
Also, that demographic is notorious for having no hygiene / safety standards. The "fresh poo on the lettuce beds" approach to gardening.
A nation where we just let far right goons haul folks off and torture them because it's "popular" is a nation where we let the immoral, demented MAGA movement win.
We should not be letting them direct any aspect of this narrative.
We should not be letting them direct any aspect of this narrative.
No, actually, we shouldn't just let the government violently attack people on the streets and disappear them into foreign gulags. We should try to stop them.
April 18, 2025 at 10:40 PM
A nation where we just let far right goons haul folks off and torture them because it's "popular" is a nation where we let the immoral, demented MAGA movement win.
We should not be letting them direct any aspect of this narrative.
We should not be letting them direct any aspect of this narrative.
I have a rule about not trash-talking other writers by name unless they did something genuinely nasty (Neil Gaiman, JKR, etc) but this guy was throwing a tantrum in a bookstore and harassing the staff, all women of color, because he thought they had hidden his book.
April 18, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I have a rule about not trash-talking other writers by name unless they did something genuinely nasty (Neil Gaiman, JKR, etc) but this guy was throwing a tantrum in a bookstore and harassing the staff, all women of color, because he thought they had hidden his book.
I would like to have a conversation about the motifs in contemporary lit by well-off white women that connects with that demographic's failure to take a stand against fascism.
(Besides obvious stuff like JKR being morally loathsome I mean)
(Besides obvious stuff like JKR being morally loathsome I mean)
April 11, 2025 at 2:00 AM
I would like to have a conversation about the motifs in contemporary lit by well-off white women that connects with that demographic's failure to take a stand against fascism.
(Besides obvious stuff like JKR being morally loathsome I mean)
(Besides obvious stuff like JKR being morally loathsome I mean)
Reposted by Rebecca Bratten Weiss
NEW: Senator Marshall (R-KS) RUNS AWAY, fleeing his own town hall after being asked about DOGE firing Veterans. MAKE HIM GO VIRAL.
March 1, 2025 at 6:21 PM
NEW: Senator Marshall (R-KS) RUNS AWAY, fleeing his own town hall after being asked about DOGE firing Veterans. MAKE HIM GO VIRAL.
Reposted by Rebecca Bratten Weiss
Quite hard to describe massive cuts at Social Security Admin plus cancelling (without explanation) the flu vaccine committee meeting as anything other than an intentional financial, physical, and psychological attack on everyone over 65 years old.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/u...
SSA employee to me re: 50% staff reduction: "Can say unequivocally that such deep cuts to SSA, which is already at historically low staffing, will cause significant to extreme degradation of services, very likely including checks missed and individuals dying before their claims can be processed."
February 27, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Quite hard to describe massive cuts at Social Security Admin plus cancelling (without explanation) the flu vaccine committee meeting as anything other than an intentional financial, physical, and psychological attack on everyone over 65 years old.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/u...
Reposted by Rebecca Bratten Weiss
Reposted by Rebecca Bratten Weiss
Oh, look what normal countries do when a former president leads a far right coup attempt.
Jair Bolsonaro charged over alleged far-right coup plot to seize power in Brazil
Former president is charged by attorney general following police report that accused him of organising a conspiracy to stop Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva taking power.
www.theguardian.com
February 19, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Oh, look what normal countries do when a former president leads a far right coup attempt.