Podcasts about united states commission

It's Monday, January 13th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus 20 Pakistani Christians remain imprisoned for blasphemy against Mohammad An International Christian Concern analysis of data from the United States Commission on Religious Freedom found that 20 Christians have remained behind bars in Pakistan for a total of 134 years for the crime of blasphemy against the false prophet Muhammad. Between 2002 and 2023, the Christians were detained or imprisoned in separate cases for alleged crimes, including “insulting the Prophet Muhammad,” a crime punishable by death under Pakistani law, “desecrating the Quran,” and “intending to outrage religious feelings.” All 20 remain incarcerated to this day.  One of the Christians, Asif Pervaiz, reportedly sent a text message to his manager at a factory that was deemed insulting to the false prophet Muhammad. Pervaiz was detained in 2013 and sentenced in 2020. The court order in Pervaiz's case, viewed by Reuters, stated that the Christian “shall be hanged by his neck till his death” for “misusing” his phone.  In another case, friends Adil Babar and Simon Nadeem, both teenagers at the time of their arrest in 2023, were detained for allegedly calling a dog “Muhammad Ali.” Judge gives Trump 'unconditional discharge' to respect presidency On Friday, Judge Juan Merchan sentenced President-elect Donald Trump in his historic hush money case to an unconditional discharge -- allowing Trump to avoid prison, fines or probation, but cementing his status as a convicted felon just 10 days before he takes the oath of office for his second term, reports ABC News. During a brief virtual hearing, New York prosecutors blasted Trump for engaging in a "direct attack on the rule of law" and making efforts to "undermine its legitimacy" by attacking the judge and others involved in the case. Trump's defense team, which vowed to appeal, said the case should never have been brought and called it a "sad day for this country." The President-elect was sentenced on Friday after a New York jury convicted him in May on 34 felony counts of “falsifying business records” to conceal a payment to a former adult film star. Trump has repeatedly maintained his innocence throughout the trial, characterizing the case as a “weaponization of our justice system.” Judge Merchan said the unconditional discharge was the "only lawful sentence" to protect "the office of the president ... not the occupant of the office." 2,500 pro-life doctors challenge Biden's pro-abortion mandate Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed a federal lawsuit on Friday against the Biden administration for trying to force emergency room doctors to perform abortions under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, reports LifeNews.com. In the case, ADF attorneys representing the Catholic Medical Association, a national network of 2,500 pro-life physicians and health care providers, argued that the mandate violates members' conscience rights and oversteps executive authority. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and gave health care decision-making power back to the states in the Dobbs decision, the Biden administration announced its intention to force doctors to perform abortions under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. Shortly after the announcement, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a memorandum stating that it grants the administration authority to override state pro-life laws, even though the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act does not mention abortion. ADF Senior Counsel Matt Bowman said, “Doctors—especially in emergency rooms—are tasked with preserving life.  Federal bureaucrats have no business compelling doctors or hospitals to end unborn lives, especially when the law they are citing grants them no such authority. Emergency room physicians can and do treat life-threatening conditions such as ectopic pregnancies. And every state allows doctors to do whatever is necessary to preserve the life of a mother.” Bowman concluded, “Elective abortion is not life-saving care—it ends the life of the unborn child—and the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act does not grant the government authority to force doctors to perform these dangerous procedures. Rather, it requires doctors to treat a pregnant woman and her ‘unborn child.'” Psalm 127:3 says, “Truly, children are a gift from the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward.” While Los Angeles burns, CA House Speaker invests $25 million to fight Trump Los Angeles is engulfed in flames, 16 people have died. and more than 10,000 structures have burned to the ground because of dry hydrants thanks to Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, yet California's Democrat lawmakers will allocate $25 million to California's Justice Department to fight the incoming Trump administration, reports the Gateway Pundit. Ashley Zavala, the KRCA News California Capitol Correspondent, was incredulous. She confronted California's Democratic State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas. ZAVALA:  “Is now the right time to have a special legislative session on allocating money to fight Trump in a way that you could already do without a special legislative session?” Rivas was reduced to a stuttering mess as he tried to justify his actions. RIVAS: “So I'm, you know, I'm here to address this, this, you know, these, these, these, these wildfires. This is a historic, historic wildfire. (crosstalk) This is, this is a historic, this is historic event. These wildfires, as I mentioned, are going to be quite possibly, be some of the worst wildfires and disasters in the State and national history.” ZAVALA:  “But minutes ago, while this wildfire is happening, and while people are trying to understand what's going on and are worried about disaster relief, worried about the ability to get homeowners insurance, your chamber gaveled into a special legislative session to prepare for Donald Trump in a way that you are already able to do without a special legislative session. So again, is now the right time for that?” RIVAS: “So, certainly our focus right now as speaker, Ashley, at this moment, my colleagues and I, we are acting with great urgency, great urgency, to ensure that we're providing much-needed relief, um, to Angelinos to ensure that that that, that we, you know, understand what it's going to take for that, for for for this region to recover.” Samaritan's Purse ready to help fire victims And finally, as deadly wildfires tragically consume some of California's metropolitan areas, Samaritan's Purse is prayerfully standing by to offer help in Jesus' Name. Once local officials give the word that it is safe to enter the affected areas, they will mobilize teams of volunteers to aid hurting homeowners. You can help through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com. In Luke 10:27, Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, January 13th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus.

fWotD Episode 2781: Texas Centennial half dollar Welcome to Featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia’s finest articles.The featured article for Sunday, 15 December 2024 is Texas Centennial half dollar.The Texas Centennial half dollar was a commemorative fifty-cent piece struck by the United States Bureau of the Mint for collectors from 1934 to 1938. It features an eagle and the Lone Star of Texas on the obverse, while the reverse is a complex scene incorporating the winged goddess Victory, the Alamo Mission, and portraits of Texan founding fathers Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin, together with the Six flags over Texas. Proposed by the American Legion's Texas Centennial Committee as a fundraising measure for the 100th anniversary of Texas's independence from Mexico, the coin's issue was approved by Congress in 1933, ending a multi-year pause on new commemorative issues under the Hoover administration. It was designed by sculptor Pompeo Coppini, previously the designer of several Texan public monuments. Rough models of the coin were approved by the committee in May 1934, but rejected by the United States Commission of Fine Arts, who viewed the design as crowded and overly-complicated. A compromise was reached, and the coin entered production at the Philadelphia Mint in October 1934.The Centennial Committee intended the coins to help finance the Texas Memorial Museum in Austin, and vended them through the American Legion and banks across Texas. The vast majority of this initial, 1934-dated, issue went unsold and was sent back to the Mint to be melted down for its silver. Smaller issues were produced at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints for the next four years, even beyond the centennial itself in 1936. The Texas Centennial Committee ceased sales of the coin in November 1938. Despite the relative lack of sales, the issue has proven popular with collectors, with the coins gradually appreciating in value.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:51 UTC on Sunday, 15 December 2024.For the full current version of the article, see Texas Centennial half dollar on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Niamh.

It's Monday, December 9h, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus 10th anniversary of South Korean missionary's imprisonment Last Wednesday, December 4th marked the tenth anniversary of South Korean businessman and missionary Choi Chun-gil's arrest and imprisonment in North Korea, reports Church in Chains. Like the two other South Korean missionaries detained in North Korea for over a decade, Kim Kuk-gi and Kim Jong Uk, Pastor Choi, age 65, is serving a life sentence with hard labor and is being held incommunicado, with no family contact since his arrest. Hebrews 13:3 says, “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them.” The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom reports that Pastor Choi was involved in transporting religious and humanitarian goods for North Koreans and was arrested on December 4, 2014 after he was allegedly lured into going to North Korea. His arrest was announced on March 26, 2015 by North Korea's state news agency KCNA, along with the arrest of Kim Kuk-gi, a Presbyterian pastor and missionary. KCNA described them as “heinous terrorists.”  According to Open Doors, North Korea is the most dangerous country worldwide in which to be a Christian. The 5 times White House Press Secretary said Biden wouldn't pardon Hunter In the lead-up to President Joe Biden's full and unconditional pardon of his son, Hunter, on December 1st, listen to the five times White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked whether he would do so. Here's Reporter #1 on July 27, 2023. REPORTER #1: “Is there any possibility that the President would end up pardoning his son? JEAN-PIERRE: “No. I just said, No. I just answered.” Here's reporter #2 on September 15, 2023. REPORTER #2: “Would the President pardon or commute his son if he's convicted? So, I've answered this question before. It was asked of me not too long ago, a couple of weeks ago, and I was very clear, and I said, No.” Here's Fox News Channel reporter Peter Doocy on December 13, 2023, PETER DOOCY: “First briefing since Hunter was indicted again in Los Angeles. Why doesn't President Biden just pardon him?” JEAN-PIERRE: “I've been very clear. The President's not going to pardon.” Here's reporter #4 on July 25, 2024. REPORTER #4: “You've also said several times the President would not pardon or commute the sentence for his son, Hunter. I just want to make sure that that is not going to change over the next six months. The President's saying he would not …” JEAN-PIERRE:  “It's still, it's still a no.  It's still a no." REPORTER #4: “It will always be a no.” JEAN-PIERRE: “It's still a no. It will be a no. It is a no. And I don't have anything else to add. Will he pardon his son? No.” And here's reporter #5 as late as November 7, 2024. REPORTER #5: “His son, Hunter, is also up for being sentenced next month. Does the President have any intention of pardoning him?” JEAN-PIERRE: “We've been asked that question multiple times. Our answer stands, which is no.” Biden himself insisted he would not pardon his son Hunter For over a year, President Joe Biden himself insisted that he would not pardon his son Hunter Biden. Listen to this June 6, 2024 exchange between ABC's David Muir and the president. MUIR: “As we sit here in Normandy, your son, Hunter, is on trial, and I know that you cannot speak about an ongoing federal prosecution, but let me ask you, will you accept the jury's outcome, their verdict, no matter what it is?" BIDEN: “Yes.” MUIR: “And have you ruled out a pardon for your son?” BIDEN: “Yes.” MUIR: “You have.” Then, at the June 13th, 2024 United States-Ukraine Bilateral Security Agreement, Biden was asked again whether he would pardon his son Hunter. Listen. REPORTER: “You're going through something that so many American families go through, the intersection of addiction and the criminal justice system, but you're not like most families. Was your son able to get a fair trial? Do you believe the Justice Department operated independently of politics?” BIDEN: “I'm extremely proud of my son, Hunter. He has overcome an addiction. He's one of the brightest, most decent man I know.  I am satisfied that I'm not going to do anything.  I said I'd abide by the jury decision. I will do that, and I will not pardon him.” Exodus 20:16 says, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” CEO Killer from Atlanta and wrote “deny,” “defend,” “depose” on bullets Two additional clues now about the masked gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4th.  First, he traveled to New York City from Atlanta by bus days before Thanksgiving. And second, with permanent marker, he wrote the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” on the 9mm ammunition found at the crime scene, reports the Associated Press. Those words echo a phrase which is commonly used by lawyers and insurance industry critics to describe tactics used to avoid paying claims. Plus, it sounds a lot like the title of a book by Jay Feinman --  Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You can Do About It. The CEO Killer remains at large. Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth: I love Jesus Christ And finally, President-elect Donald Trump is standing by his decision to nominate Fox News personality Pete Hegseth to serve as secretary of defense amid concerns that an alleged drinking habit might impact his ability to do the job, reports The Christian Post. On Truth Social last Friday, Trump said Hegseth is “Princeton/Harvard educated - with a Military state of mind. He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense, one who leads with charisma and skill. Pete is a WINNER.” Appearing on Megyn Kelly's podcast, Hegseth talked about what Trump wants at the Department of Defense. HEGSETH: “If you wanted another general or another Admiral or an executive or a CEO or a politician or a lawyer to run the Defense Department, we've tried that before. [Trump] said, ‘I want a war fighter. I want lethality, lethality, lethality. I want readiness, accountability, standards, war fighting. Pete, that's you. That's me. Clean house of the woke crap, all that stuff, all the climate stuff, and the [Critical Race Theory] and the [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion] and the genderism and the transgender: Get rid of it. Let's bring the Pentagon back to the people, the People's Pentagon for war fighters.'” Hegseth explained why the media is slamming his nomination. HEGSETH: “What you're seeing right now with me is the art of the smear. It is the classic art of the smear. Take whatever tiny kernels of truth, and there are tiny, tiny ones in there, and blow them up into a masquerade of a narrative about somebody that I am definitely not.” And Hegseth publicly declared that he and his wife love Jesus Christ. HEGSETH: “They're interested in smearing someone who supports Donald Trump's agenda. It's really clear. I'm in the middle of it, but I'm surrounded by a great team. I got a wonderful wife. We love this country. We love Jesus, Christ, our Savior. And we're going to fight.” After his conversion in 2018 following his marriage to his third wife, today he and his wife are members of Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship. Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, December 9th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

We are joined by the esteemed Princeton University Professor of Jurisprudence (aka the study of law), Dr. Robert George, to discuss the difficulties and counter-ideologies of our time and what men must do to stand against these false truths. Robert also shares with us a powerful story of his father's love and how continually witnessing this strength and kindness set the foundation for him and his four brothers to live as virtuous men. He speaks on how to engage with people of polar opposite beliefs and how to constantly champion truth without compromising one's character. With twenty-three honorary doctorates to his name, Dr. George brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to our discussion, ensuring that his profound wisdom will resonate with you as it did with us.

In this episode, I got to talk with Dr. Robert P. George. Robert is McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. He also served as chairman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and the President's Council on Civil Rights. Dr. George is also the author of many books including Conscience and its Enemies and Making Moral Men. He is a former Judicial Fellow at the Supreme Court of the United States where he received the Justice Tom C. Clark Award. He has degrees from Oxford University, Swarthmore College, and Harvard University.In our conversation we talked about the results of the 2024 election and what direction Donald Trump is taking the Republican Party. We also talked about whether or not the Republican Party can be considered a Conservative Party any longer. We discussed post liberalism and Dr. George's political philosophy related to natural law. We concluded the discussion with a conversation about the purpose of education and Dr. Robert P. George's friendship with Cornel West. I hope you enjoy!This podcast is sponsored by Rocketsled Studios. Sign up for my newsletter and never miss an episode: https://optivnetwork.comFollow me on X: https://x.com/andyschmitt99Email me at andy@optivnetwork.com with your questions!Music: "nesting" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)

Edward Stourton is in the chair with a debate on what to do with empty churches, as the Church of England blocks plans to allow one in Stoke-on-Trent to become a mosque. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom - an organ of the Federal government based in Washington - has published a report on the Chinese government's efforts to control the country's religions including reports of crosses and images of Jesus and Mary being taken down in churches and replaced with pictures of the Chinese President Xi Jinping.Bond Director Lee Tamahori famous for 'Die Another Day' tells us about his latest blockbuster starring Guy Pearce. 'The Convert' is a film about a missionary and his misgivings about converting Maori tribes to Christianity in 1800's New Zealand.Fr Timothy Radcliffe talks about his surprise at being appointed a Cardinal, his journey to becoming an esteemed preacher and his thoughts on the regalia that comes with being a 'red hat'. Sunday hears from George Antone, one of the last Christians of Gaza who has been in touch with the programme for the past year as he and hundreds of Catholics seek refuge in the Holy Family Church in Northern Gaza. As military action intensifies in the region, George tells us about his fears for the future.

WMAL GUEST: 7:05 AM - INTERVIEW - J. CHRISTIAN ADAMS -  president of the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) SOCIAL MEDIA: https://x.com/ElectionLawCtr https://x.com/PILFoundation WEBSITE: https://publicinterestlegal.org/ BIO: Prior to joining The Public Interest Legal Foundation, J. Christian Adams served from 2005 to 2010 in the Voting Section at the United States Department of Justice Voting Section. President Trump appointed Adams to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. President Trump also appointed Adams as a Commissioner to the United States Commission on Civil Rights where he also now serves with a term through 2025. Several states are making late changes to election rules, even as voting is set to begin Non-citizens added to states' voter rolls through DMV, even after admitting lack of US citizenship LAST WEEK: Frederick leaders approve letting noncitizens vote in local elections Where to find more about WMAL's morning show:  Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor,  @Jgunlock, @patricepinkfile, and @heatherhunterdc.  Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Wednesday, September 25, 2024 / 7 AM Hour  O'Connor and Company is proudly presented by Veritas AcademySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 7 AM Hour: Larry O'Connor and Julie Gunlock discussed: WMAL GUEST: 7:05 AM - INTERVIEW - J. CHRISTIAN ADAMS -  president of the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) SOCIAL MEDIA: https://x.com/ElectionLawCtr https://x.com/PILFoundation WEBSITE: https://publicinterestlegal.org/ BIO: Prior to joining The Public Interest Legal Foundation, J. Christian Adams served from 2005 to 2010 in the Voting Section at the United States Department of Justice Voting Section. President Trump appointed Adams to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. President Trump also appointed Adams as a Commissioner to the United States Commission on Civil Rights where he also now serves with a term through 2025. Several states are making late changes to election rules, even as voting is set to begin Non-citizens added to states' voter rolls through DMV, even after admitting lack of US citizenship LAST WEEK: Frederick leaders approve letting noncitizens vote in local elections Harris-Trump showdown: Leading law enforcement group takes sides in presidential election WMAL GUEST: 7:35 AM - INTERVIEW - BRENDAN CARR - FCC Commissioner  George Soros taking 'shortcut' to buy 200 US radio stations, FCC commissioner says Carr on the Biden admin's handling of expanding broadband JUNE 2024: Why Has Joe Biden's $42 Billion Broadband Program Not Connected One Single Household? NY TIMES: Trump's Low-Tax, High-Tariff Strategy Could Clash With Economic Realities Where to find more about WMAL's morning show:  Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor,  @Jgunlock, @patricepinkfile, and @heatherhunterdc.  Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Wednesday, September 25, 2024 / 7 AM Hour  O'Connor and Company is proudly presented by Veritas AcademySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Monday, August 26th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus China and North Korea work together to persecute Christians According to a new report, China continues to aid North Korea in its relentless persecution of Christians.  The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom recently published its findings on the alarming lack of religious freedom in North Korea and China's role in helping to spur it forward.  As North Korea shares a large border with China, many North Koreans flee persecution and travel to China in a desperate attempt to start new lives. It's a calculated risk that many make, hoping to find human kindness from Christian missionaries or others who will help them before authorities catch them. However, for many of these individuals, life remains bleak. Stories of human trafficking and maltreatment of North Korean refugees at the hands of Chinese authorities and organized crime rings are common.   According to Open Doors, North Korea is the most dangerous country worldwide in which to be a Christian and China is the 19th. In Matthew 5:10, Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven" Kamala Harris: Long on generalities, short on specifics Last Thursday night, despite the fact that Vice President Kamala Harris had not earned one vote for the Democratic presidential nomination, she said this at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, reports LifeSiteNews.com. HARRIS: “I accept your nomination to be President of the United States.” Her speech was long on philosophy and short on specifics. HARRIS: “Our nation, with this election, has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism, and divisive battles of the past, a chance to chart a new way forward.” She took potshots at former President Donald Trump. HARRIS: “In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man, but the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious. Just imagine Donald Trump with no guard rails, (boos) and how he would use the immense powers of the presidency of the United States.” Many Trump supporters simply point to his successful four-year record in maintaining peace abroad and lowering taxes at home. Since Kamala Harris is beholden to the abortion giant Planned Parenthood, she objected to any notion of even typical medical reporting and documentation of abortions in each state. HARRIS: “He plans to create a national anti-abortion coordinator and force states to report on women's miscarriages and abortions. (boos) Simply put, they are out of their minds.” And, using the euphemistically misleading reference to “reproductive freedom,” Harris committed to signing a codification of Roe v. Wade into law, report The Washington Stand. HARRIS: “And when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom, as President of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.” (cheers and applause) Ironically, the Democratic National Convention video feed featured a baby held in the arms of her father, a delegate. Trump reacts to Kamala Harris DNC speech Former President Trump called into FOX News after Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her acceptance speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, reports RealClearPolitics.com. TRUMP: “Why didn't she do the things that she's complaining about? All of these things that she talked about -- we're going to do this, we're going to do that, we're going to do everything. But she didn't do any of it. She could have done it three and a half years ago. She could do it tonight by leaving the auditorium and going to Washington, DC and closing the border. “She doesn't need a bill. I didn't have a bill. I closed the border and created the safest border we've ever had in the history of our country. She was the Border Czar. She presided over the weakest border in the history of our country. She's got four and a half five months left.” Trump criticized Kamala Harris' refusal to address many of the real issues facing America. “She didn't talk about fracking. She didn't talk about crime. She didn't talk about housing. She didn't talk about child trafficking. She didn't talk about interest rates. I mean, the interest rates are now getting close to record rates. People can't do business. Nobody can borrow money. She didn't talk about any of that. “She's a Marxist. She always was. She always will be.” Ben Shapiro: Kamala Harris “owns this economy, this foreign policy” Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro was incredulous. SHAPIRO: “There's nothing there. It's all a lie. She's the Vice President of the United States. Inflation has been at 40-year highs. We're in the midst of two major world conflagrations -- one in the Middle East, one in Ukraine. Her administration has presided over both. “She was the last person in the room when the United States decided, under Joe Biden, to pull out of Afghanistan and leave them billions of dollars in U.S. military hardware, as well as abandoning thousands of U.S. allies to be murdered by the Taliban, as well as abandoning 19 million Afghan women to be stuffed back into bags and back into basements, as well as getting 13 American troops killed at Abbey Gate. “She owns this economy. She owns this foreign policy. She owns the social breakdown over which she has presided. But we're supposed to pretend that she is just brand-spanking new, just fresh out of the package. It's an audacious move. I will grant them that. It is audacious to take a woman who has been a senator from California, and the Vice President of the United States for the last three years, and pretend that she has had nothing to do with anything that is happening in the country right now!” Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are His delight.” Robert F. Kennedy endorsed Trump for President On Friday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his independent presidential bid and endorsed Donald Trump. KENNEDY: “Three great causes drove me to enter this race in the first place, primarily. And these are the principal causes that persuaded me to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent, and now to throw my support to President Trump. The causes were free speech, a war in Ukraine, and the war on our children.” Trump offered him a possible Cabinet position, like Abraham Lincoln did of his presidential opponents in the 1860 election -- Attorney General Edward Bates, Treasury Secretary Salmon Chase, and Secretary of State William Seward. KENNEDY: “Now, one of the two candidates has adopted these issues as his own, to the point where he has asked to enlist me in his administration. I'm speaking of course, of Donald Trump. “We talked about Abraham Lincoln's Team of Rivals, that arrangement would allow us to disagree publicly and privately and furiously, if need be on issues over which we differ, while working together on the existential issues upon which we are in concordance.” Robert F. Kennedy Jr., once a proud Democrat in the tradition of his uncle, John F. Kennedy, and his father, Robert F. Kennedy, is now demonstrably disgusted with the Democratic Party. KENNEDY: “The DNC and its media organs engineered a surge of popularity for Vice President Harris based upon nothing, no policies, no interviews, no debates, only smoke and mirrors and balloons. I urge you to take 24 minutes and listen to the entirety of RFK, Jr's speech. It's worth your time. We have it linked through our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com. Hugh Hewitt: RFK Jr's endorsement of Trump will help him win Appearing last Friday with Brett Baier on the Fox News program Special Report, radio host Hugh Hewitt weighed in on the importance of independent candidate for president Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsing former President Donald Trump. HEWITT: “Robert Kennedy Jr. endorsing Donald Trump is a big deal. And I don't care who says what about it. He had 2-5% in every battleground state. Most of that's gonna go to Donald Trump. 60-75% of that. It was a 44,000 vote election in 2020. So that is a very big deal.” Hewitt explained that Kennedy supporters would not find a home in the Kamala Harris campaign. HEWITT:  "A lot of the people who are supporting Bobby Kennedy have a great suspicion of the government, not just COVID, but just of the administrative state generally.  Those folks are not going to find a home with Kamala Harris, who is the child of big government California, San Francisco, Democrat land. “Although it's only 2 or 3 percent, we're talking about a toss-up. It's like the bank shot at the end of a basketball game. It matters. It matters a lot.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, August 26th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

It's Friday, August 16th, A.D. 2024. This is The World View in 5 Minutes written by Jonathan Clark and heard at www.TheWorldView.com. Filling in for Adam McManus I'm Ean Leppin. Taliban Persecutes Church in Afghanistan International Christian Concern or the ICC reports that the Taliban celebrated its third anniversary of its takeover of Afghanistan.  The climate for believers in Afghanistan has become very dire.  The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has pleaded with the US Department of State to designate Afghanistan as a Country of Particular Concern since 2022.  However the US Department has never recognized those concerns by making Afghanistan a ‘Special Watchlist Country'. According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom the Taliban has implemented an extreme version of Sharia Law in the country since they took power.  The enforcement of that law includes ‘Public executions, lashings and floggings, stoning, beatings, and acts of public humiliation such as forced head shaving.'  Not only that but the Taliban has also restricted contact with the outside world including any efforts to send assistance to the churches through legal and logistical difficulties.  Please pray that believers in Afghanistan would be encouraged and that their faith will remain strong. Joshua 1:9 says “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Taliban Holds Parade to Celebrate 3 years in Afghanistan On Wednesday the Taliban celebrated their 3 year occupation in Afghanistan with a military parade at Bagram Airfield, which was once the largest US military base in the country.  Not only that but the parade showcased US military vehicles and weapons that were left behind when the US left Afghanistan. Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg told Fox News about the events that led up to such an abrupt evacuation of US military presence and who is responsible. KELLOGG: “It primarily falls on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, because they walked away from the Doha Agreement.  That was the agreement that President Trump put in place.  It wasn't a perfect agreement.  No agreements are perfect, but it was pretty good to set the stage for good conflict-ending time in Afghanistan.  And it was a conditions-based agreement.  Most importantly, what President Trump had done, is he had established a personal relationship with Omar Baradar, who was the lead Taliban negotiator.  So we had that relationship as well.  And when President Trump talked to Baradar (and I was in the Oval Office when that happened), he told them what would happen if they didn't fulfill their agreement.  And even though it was translated, I kept thinking to myself, ‘Boy, how is this being translated, because it's pretty stern?'  After that discussion with Baradar, not a single American was killed in over a year in Afghanistan, but Biden walked away from that agreement.” The rapid evacuation of the US military resulted in $7 billion of military equipment being abandoned in the region.  Hal Kempfer a retired Marine Intelligence Officer gave Fox News some insight into what it means to run and maintain that much equipment. KEMPFER: “With the Afghan national army, they were dependent on U.S. contractors to keep all that equipment running.  So, even though they inherited $7 billion worth of equipment, which is just- I mean, that just sits on my shoulders, when I think about the sheer amount of equipment that we left there, it's horrible.  Even though we left that, they have a tough time, just like the Afghan national government did, of keeping that stuff going.  And without those U.S. contractor there, they lack the expertise, they don't have the spare parts, they don't have the ability to get the spare parts.  So what you see rolling there, one of my first thoughts was, ‘That may be, all of everything we left, that could be the only stuff that's still operating.  And that may be as fast as some of those things could probably drive too.'  So, it's not a silver lining, but it is something to consider.” New data about Amendment 4 in Florida New polls show Florida Amendment 4, which would legalize abortions up to birth in the state, doesn't have enough support to pass.  LifeNews.com reports that Amendment 4 proposes to codify unrestricted abortion in the state's constitution and would overturn every pro-life law in the state and force taxpayers to fund abortions.  Not only that, but minors wouldn't even need parental consent.  Amending the state's constitution requires approval by a 60 percent majority.  USA Today data is showing that while the 60 percent support is not reflective of the population. They have found that 58 percent of those in Florida are in favor of Amendment 4.  Data released by Florida Atlantic University shows 56 percent of those in Florida support Amendment 4.  Amendment 4 will be on the ballot in Florida this November. Isaiah 5:20 says Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Hurricane Ernesto continues to cause damage. Reuters news reports that as of Thursday Hurricane Ernesto has already caused massive damage in Puerto Rico.  It has destroyed over 400,000 homes and businesses and that roughly half of the country is without power. Bermuda is currently under a hurricane warning as forecasters are predicting Ernesto could make landfall later today.  By Saturday experts are expecting Ernesto to strengthen even more.  Pray for those without power and homes and for those who will are in the path of this hurricane. New Medbot could be an answer to a global surgeon shortage. A medical feat was accomplished recently using a remote control robot to remove a tumor from a patient's lung with the Surgeon being 3000 miles away!  Good News Network reports that a Chinese-made 5G Medbot allowed Dr Lou Qingquan to remotely operate robotic arms to complete a surgery.  Dr Luo was seated in the Shanghai Chest Hospital on the Pacific Coast and operated on a patient 3000 miles inland.  This is the nation's first robot-assisted surgery.  There is currently a global shortage of specialist surgeons.  It is calculated that for every 100,000 people in low and middle-income countries there is currently less than 1 specialist surgeon as compared to over 5 in high-income countries.  These Medbots could be a potential breakthrough for those in need worldwide. And that's The World View on this Friday, August 16th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldView.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. Filling in for Adam McManus I'm Ean Leppin. Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

It's Tuesday, August 13th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus.  (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson U.S. Christian leaders want India designated as dangerous Over 300 Christian leaders from Roman Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Anglican, and Lutheran churches have submitted a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, calling on the US to designate India as a Country of Particular Concern in regards to religious liberties. The letter notes that persecution against Christians in India is now 4.7 times worse than it was in 2010 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi came into power. International Christian Concern places India as the third worst persecutor of Christians in the world today. Earlier this year, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a statement criticizing the Biden administration for refusing to include India and Nigeria on the list of Countries of Particular Concern. India's government is headed by a nationalist Hindu party.  And Nigeria's government is headed by a president of Islamic persuasion. As of 2022, the Biden administration has appointed a Muslim, Rashad Hussain, as the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. Kamala Harris most liberal Democratic presidential candidate Our worldview analysis of the Democrat candidates for the U.S. presidency found Kamala Harris as the most leftist candidate ever to run for the top office as far back as the early 1980s. For example, 52% of the Democrat senators were rated more liberal than Joe Biden in the 2008 legislative session, according to Gov Track.US.  In addition, 17% of the Democrat senators were rated more liberal than Barack Obama in the same legislative season. Regarding Al Gore, 43% of the Democrat senators were rated more liberal than him in the 1990s. Gore was the Democrat candidate who faced off with George W. Bush in the 2000 elections. In 2020, GovTrack marked only 6% of the Democrat Senators as more liberal than Kamala Harris. And, in 2019, GovTrack ranked Kamala Harris as the “most liberal compared to all senators.” Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are radically pro-abortion Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America issed a memorandum warning of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz's “fanatical” commitment to killing children in the womb. Both candidates fought for policies that would allow babies to suffer and die if they were born alive in an attempted abortion. Both candidates also opposed all legislation that prohibited the coercion of women into abortions. And both have enthusiastically supported increased government funding for abortion. Proverbs 31:8 instructs those in power to: “Open your mouth for the speechless. In the cause of all who are appointed to die, open your mouth, judge righteously.” Top 10 most crime-ridden cities Crime dominates in at least 10 cities in America. Newsweek puts the highest robbery rates in the country in these 10 cities — Baltimore, Minneapolis, Chicago, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Seattle, Denver, and Little Rock, Arkansas — all of them blue cities. Man pretending to be a woman sues Liberty University A man pretending to be a woman is suing Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia for what he calls “Unlawful termination” on the basis of his so-called “gender identity.” Jonathan Zinski is seeking $300,000 and a reinstatement to his position on the IT help desk at the Christian college. Liberty University's Doctrinal Statement holds that denial of birth sex by self-identification with a different gender is a sinful act prohibited by God. 191 Olympians embrace homosexual sin (Audio of Olympic theme song) The Olympics have turned homosexual, with 191 athletes claiming to have embraced the sinful lifestyle. That's up from only five in the year 2000.   And, according to Outsports, one third of President Joe Biden's delegation to the Closing Ceremony identified with a sexually perverted lifestyle. China tied with the U.S. for the most gold medals won at the Summer Olympics this year.  That's the second time China has taken first place in history.  The first time was in 2008. China has largest economy Based on Gross National Income by Purchasing Power Parity, China is now the largest economy in the world at $35 trillion. The United States is second at $29 trillion. And India has displaced Japan for third place at $15 trillion. Greece's wildfire In God's providence, Greece is experiencing the worst wildfire of the year, now approaching Athens and surrounding towns. The mayor of the ancient city of Marathon, Stergios Tsirkas, told CBS News, “Our whole town is engulfed in flames.” Half of the nation is under what they call “red alert” - at high risk of fires. Gold hit record high In economic news, gold posted another record high on Monday at $2,470/ounce. Meanwhile, Bitcoin is down 18% from its March high. And the Nasdaq is still 10% down from its July 9th peak. Elon Musk interviewed Trump last night The richest man in the worldinterviewed Donald Trump on his social media platform X Monday night. Elon Musk has endorsed Trump for president in the 2024 race. Trump is back on Twitter, a social media outlet with 126 million active users in the United States, compared to Facebook's 222 million. The valor of Euplius And finally, yesterday was a notable anniversary.  On August 12th in the year A.D. 304, Euplius of Catania, a Christian deacon from Sicily, was martyred under the Diocletian Persecution. His crime? He was in possession of the Scriptures. He unashamedly, loudly, and repeatedly declared himself to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, before he was tortured and beheaded for his faith. Let us stand for Jesus today. In 2 Timothy 2:12, the Apostle Paul wrote, “For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, August 13th, in the year of our Lord 2024.  Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Ten years ago, the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) launched a campaign of mass atrocities to achieve the religious and ethnic cleansing of religious minority groups in Iraq and Syria. In 2016, the U.S. State Department determined ISIS's atrocities against Yazidis, Christians, and Shi'a Muslims constituted crimes against humanity and genocide. Ten years on, survivors face multiple threats to their religious freedom, security, and existence within their homelands.Today, Ambassador David Saperstein, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, and the Hon. Frank Wolf, former U.S. Representative (R-VA 10th) and former Commissioner at the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), join USCIRF Senior Policy Analyst Susan Bishai. They share their firsthand insight into the United States' response to ISIS's genocide and crimes against humanity, as well as offer recommendations for the U.S. to support religious freedom for the surviving communities, ten years on.Listen to USCIRF's first podcast in this series commemorating the tenth anniversary of ISIS's genocide. Read USCIRF's 2024 Annual Report Chapter on Iraq and view USCIRF's Hearing on Religious Minorities & Governance in Iraq.With Contributions from:Susan Bishai, Senior Policy Analyst, USCIRFVeronica McCarthy, Public Affairs Associate, USCIRF

Stephen Schneck and Eric Ueland, commissioners of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), will join Elizabeth Cassidy, senior strategic advisor of USCIRF, to present the key policy recommendations of the USCIRF 2024 annual report and the foreign policy implications of international religious freedom today.  USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government agency created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act that monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad; makes policy recommendations to the president, secretary of state, and Congress; and tracks the implementation of these recommendations. USCIRF's nine Commissioners are appointed by either the president or congressional leaders of each political party, and are supported by a non-partisan professional staff. 

Stephen Schneck and Eric Ueland, commissioners of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), will join Elizabeth Cassidy, senior strategic advisor of USCIRF, to present the key policy recommendations of the USCIRF 2024 annual report and the foreign policy implications of international religious freedom today. USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government agency created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act that monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad; makes policy recommendations to the president, secretary of state, and Congress; and tracks the implementation of these recommendations. USCIRF's nine Commissioners are appointed by either the president or congressional leaders of each political party, and are supported by a non-partisan professional staff.

Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs spoke about the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, which publishes the annual list of Countries of Particular Concern as it relates specifically to the issue of religious freedom. Todd also talks about the persecution of believers in Egypt; pastors who have been imprisoned in Eritrea for 20 years; and news of God healing a Christian woman in Iran which has impacted the nurses of the hospital so much they are requesting bibles to learn of the God who heals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Am Morgen des 15. Juni 1904 scheint die Sonne von einem nahezu wolkenlosen Himmel hinab auf die freudige Menge an Ausflüglern, die das Pier am New Yorker East River entlang auf den Schaufelraddampfer „General Slocum“ zu hält. Das hell gestrichene Schiff soll sie für ein Picknick nach Long Island bringen und so das Ende des Sonntagsschuljahres markieren. Dafür hat die Gemeinde der St. Mark's Lutheran Evangelical Church das Schiff gechartert. Doch nicht eine Stunde später würden die meisten der 1.358 Passagiere – vor allem Frauen und Kinder – tot sein und der Untergang der „General Slocum“ würde gemessen an den Opfern als größte zivile Schiffskatastrophe in den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika in die Geschichtsbücher eingehen. In der neusten Folge von „Früher war mehr Verbrechen“ begeben sich Nina und Katharina an diesen schicksalshaften Tag und gehen auch der Frage nach, ob das Unglück zu verhindern gewesen wäre. // Quellen & Shownotes // - General-Anzeiger der Stadt Mannheim und Umgebung: badische neueste Nachrich-ten, Mittagsblatt, 16.06.1904, S.2, https://www.deutsche-digitale-biblio-thek.de/newspaper/item/DYCOKM754QRMWDCQJ7CIPGCAPU43ICXK?tx_dlf[highlight_word]=slocum&issuepage=2&query=slocum&fromDay=1&fromMonth=1&fromYear=1903&toDay=31&toMonth=12&toYear=1905&page=2&hit=9 - General-Anzeiger für Dortmund und die Provinz Westfalen, 17.06.1904, S.1, https://www.deutsche-digitale-biblio-thek.de/newspaper/item/QDJQPEDRI3FZYRB7RTPUDE6RVKFU2JLM?query=slocum&fromDay=1&fromMonth=1&fromYear=1903&toDay=31&toMonth=12&toYear=1905&page=2&hit=4&issuepage=1 - Houghtaling, T., Witness to Tragedy: The Sinking of the General Slocum, 24.02. 2016, New York Historical Society, https://www.nyhistory.org/blogs/witness-to-tragedy-the-sinking-of-the-general-slocum - King, G., A Spectacle of Horror – The Burning of the General Slocum, Smithsonian Magazine, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-spectacle-of-horror-the-burning-of-the-general-slocum-104712974/, 21.02.2012 - Kreye, A., Das fatale Feuer auf der "General Slocum", Süddeutsche Zeitung Online, 15. Juni 2004, https://www.sueddeutsche.de/panorama/new-york-general-slocum-1.858611 - Library of Congress, Fotografien und Publikationen, https://www.loc.gov/search/?fa=subject:general+slocum+%28steamboat%29 - New-York Tribune, December 20, 1912, Page 7, https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1912-12-20/ed-1/seq-7/?date1=1911&index=17&date2=1913&language=&sequence=&lccn=&state=&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=van+schaick&year=&phrasetext=&andtext=&proxValue=&dateFilterType=yearRange#words=%5Bu%27SCHAICK%27%2C%2520u%27VAN%27%5D - Northrop, H. D., New York's awful steamboat horror, Philadelphia 1904, https://www.loc.gov/item/04026220/ - O'Donnell, E. T., Little Germanys Untergang, Spiegel Online, 07.04.2006, https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/schiffstragoedie-in-new-york-little-germanys-untergang-a-410073.html - Ogilvie, J.S., History of the General Slocum Disaster, New York, 1904, https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/public/gdcmassbookdig/historyofgeneral00ogil/historyofgeneral00ogil.pdf - Report of the United States Commission of Investigation upon the Disaster to the Steamer "General Slocum." https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO%20Documents/5p/CG-5PC/INV/docs/documents/Slocum.pdf - Westfälischer Merkur, 17.06.1904, S.3, https://www.deutsche-digitale-biblio-thek.de/newspaper/item/2TM7HUFMJCBL4CRWOL7DWNOR4KYUUVAW?query=slocum&fromDay=1&fromMonth=1&fromYear=1903&toDay=31&toMonth=12&toYear=1905&hit=19&issuepage=3 // Tickets zu unserer Lesung gibt's hier:// https://www.vhs-taufkirchen.de/kurssuche/kurs/Frueher-war-mehr-Verbrechen/241-2129 // Folgt uns auf Instagram // https://www.instagram.com/frueher.war.mehr.verbrechen/?hl=de // Karte mit allen „Früher war mehr Verbrechen“-Tatorten // https://bit.ly/2FFyWF6 // Mail //: https://linktr.ee/fwmv // Kaffeekasse //: https://ko-fi.com/fwmvpodcast GEMAfreie Musik von https://audiohub.de

In 2020 Turkey's government changed the status of Hagia Sophia from a museum into a mosque. Now, Ankara is looking to repeat this with another important UNESCO World Heritage site, Chora Church. In response, HALC has launched a petition calling on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to exert pressure on Turkey for the protection of its Christian minorities and Christian cultural heritage. Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou joins Thanos Davelis to look at why preserving Chora Church is important, and break down how USCIRF can take action - including visiting Turkey and the occupied territories of Cyprus.Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou is a professor in the International Studies Department at Boston College, an internationally recognized leader on issues of religion and human rights, and a previous Vice Chair and Commissioner on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.Add you name to HALC's petition to USCIRFYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey revives plan to convert another iconic Byzantine site into a mosqueDendias: After Red Sea mission, Greece seeks key role in EU defenseTurkey spy chief Kalin to meet CIA's Burns, discuss Syria on first US visit

IRF Month begins with an interview with Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice. Afterward, John and Elliot discuss youth involvement in the IRF movement. Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett serves as President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, established in 2008 to continue the legacy of her father, the late Congressman Tom Lantos. Under her leadership, The Lantos Foundation has rapidly become a distinguished and respected voice on key human rights concerns. Dr. Lantos Swett is the former Chair and Vice-Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and teaches Human Rights and American Foreign Policy at Tufts University. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Board of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) and the Budapest based Tom Lantos Institute. Dr. Lantos Swett also serves on the Advisory Board of UN Watch, the annual Anne Frank Award and Lecture, and The Warren B. Rudman Center for Justice, Leadership, and Public Policy. Lantos Swett earned a Political Science degree from Yale University at the age of 18, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and a PhD in History from The University of Southern Denmark. Special Guest: Katrina Lantos Swett.

Dr. Chaps reports on these important stories. First, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released a report on anti-conversion laws prepared by International Christian Concern (ICC). "Alerting all parents!". Many have found the animated program CoComelon Lane to be a clean show; 1MM has recently found this to no longer be true. In episode 8 of CoComelon Lane, Netflix featured two dads singing 'Just Be You' as they proudly watched a young boy ('their' son) dance while wearing a tiara and tutu. Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned from her position Tuesday after facing backlash over her response to antisemitism on campus and a plagiarism scandal. Get free alerts at http://PrayInJesusName.org © 2024, Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt, PhD. Airs on NRB TV, Direct TV Ch.378, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, GoogleTV, Smart TV, iTunes and www.PrayInJesusName.org

Humanists International just released their 2023 Freedom of Thought Report that documents the efforts to protect or not protect religious freedom in all the countries in the world. The US government created the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom in 1998 to call out countries that violate religious freedom.One of these efforts is trying to hold the powerful accountable for religious freedom and the other is a bad faith attempt to privilege Christianity using the power of the state.We examine the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and ask why haven't any atheists been appointed yet several Christian Nationalists have been.Finally we hear clips of comments made at the Humanists International press conference about the newest report. We hear from Reps. Jaime Raskin and Jared Huffman from the Congressional Freethought Caucus and others about the importance of the report and religious freedom for all.00:40 Introduction of the 2023 Freedom of Thought Report05:04 Why The Freedom Of Thought Report Came Into Existence10:06 Bad Faith Religious Freedom Protection16:57 No Atheists On The United States Commission On International Religious Freedom20:00 Selected Clips From The Humanist International Press Conference.Full Show NotesSupport the showSubscribe to our free newsletterCheck out our MerchFind us on Twitter(for now) Find us on InstagramFind us on Counter SocialFind us on Mastadon

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Several American Catholic dioceses have already issued statements on how they intend to implement new Vatican guidelines that permit nonliturgical pastoral blessings of homosexual couples, but it's still unclear what this will look like in most of the country. The Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a declaration on Monday titled Fiducia Supplicans, which allows “spontaneous” pastoral blessings for “same-sex couples” and other couples in “irregular situations.” The document still prohibits any sort of liturgical blessing of homosexual couples because such a blessing would “offer a form of moral legitimacy to a union that presumes to be a marriage or to an extra-marital sexual practice.” The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith's document has led to some controversy among the Catholic faithful and some confusion about what the Vatican is actually calling on bishops and priests to do. The implementation of the new guidelines could differ from diocese to diocese, as various bishops appear to be emphasizing different parts of the document. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256321/us-dioceses-respond-to-vatican-declaration-on-same-sex-couple-blessings More than 40 laymen and laywomen in the Diocese of Clogher in the north of Ireland will soon begin presiding over funeral liturgies amid a shortage of priests. A major vocation crisis could result in fewer than 10 active priests in the diocese in less than 20 years, according to the local ordinary, Bishop Larry Duffy. Duffy said that the diocese is “far too dependent” on priests for pastoral care, administration, property maintenance, planning, and parish governance. In 2021, a survey by the Association of Catholic Priests found that only about 30% of Catholics in Ireland attend Mass weekly — a significant drop from 91% in 1975. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256318/irish-diocese-to-rely-on-laity-to-preside-over-funerals-amid-shortage-of-priests A religious freedom watchdog group is urging the Biden administration to add the government of India to a list of the world's worst violators of religious freedom. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said this month in a press release that it was “alarmed by India's increased transnational targeting of religious minorities and those advocating on their behalf.” The commission this month said Indian authorities “have used spyware and online harassment campaigns to target and intimidate journalists and activists abroad advocating on behalf of religious minorities.” Commissioner Stephen Schneck said in the release that the indications of religious persecution are “deeply troubling and represent a severe escalation of India's efforts to silence religious minorities and human rights defenders both within its country and abroad.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256317/us-religious-freedom-watchdog-urges-white-house-to-list-india-as-country-of-concern Today, the Church celebrates Saint Dominic of Silos, a Spanish monk who in the eleventh century renewed the spirit of the monastery of San Sebastian in Silos, reforming its structure, its finances, and its works of charity. Dominic was known for miracles of healing, which he obtained through prayer, and for his work of ransoming Christian prisoners from the moors. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-dominic-of-silos-90

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom published an in-depth report this week examining threats to religious properties in Turkey, including places of worship, religious institutions, and cemeteries. This research looks at various threats and attacks over the last two decades and documents whether assailants were brought to justice. It also investigates the role of Turkish authorities in the protection of religious sites and the impact of government action, indifference, and negligence. Dr. Tuğba Tanyeri-Erdemir, the author of this report, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss the threats to religious sites in Turkey, and break down how they impact religious groups across the country.Dr. Tuğba Tanyeri-Erdemir is the coordinator of AntiDefamation League's Task Force on Middle East Minorities. She is also a non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute and the co-chair of International Religious Freedom Roundtable's Middle East Working Group. Dr. Tanyeri Erdemir's research focuses on minority rights in the Middle East, heritage management of sacred sites, converted and contested religious buildings, and re-utilization and museumification of religious heritage.Read Dr. Tugba Tanyeri Erdemir's report for USCIRF: Examination of Threats to Religious Sites in TurkeyYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Thousands march to mark 50th anniversary of student uprisingPM says Athens Polytechnic uprising a ‘beacon' for democracySakellaropoulou honors 50th anniversary of Athens Polytechnic uprisingGermany has ‘psychology of guilt' when it comes to Holocaust, Israel, Erdoğan saysScholz addresses 'differences' with Erdogan on Israel

Is religious freedom the first and most fundamental freedom in a culture? Or is the claim for religious freedom simply code for various forms of bigotry? What is the state of free speech and the freedom to dissent on college campuses today. Join Scott as he discusses these questions and more with Princeton Professor Robert George.Robert George is McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. He has served as chairman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and before that on the President's Council on Bioethics and as a presidential appointee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights.Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2023/religious-freedom-in-a-polarized-culture==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California. Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

Find links to all the following stories as well as other law and legal-adjacent stories at esq.social Links. On this day in history August 29, 1957, the Civil Rights Act of 1957 was passed by congress – the first piece of federal legislation aimed at civil rights since reconstruction.Prompted by the Supreme Court's landmark 1954 ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, which ignited public debate on school desegregation, the act aimed to address the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the Southern United States. President Dwight D. Eisenhower initially proposed the bill to bolster federal protection for African American voting rights, a pressing issue given that only about 20% of black people were registered to vote by 1957.However, the act faced considerable opposition in Congress, particularly from Southern Democrats who were engaged in a campaign of "massive resistance" against desegregation and civil rights reforms. Amendments like the Anderson–Aiken and O'Mahoney jury trial amendments were successful in diluting the act's potency. Senator Strom Thurmond notably conducted the longest one-person filibuster in Senate history in an attempt to block the legislation.Despite these setbacks, the act did pass, albeit in a watered-down form orchestrated by Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson. While the act had a limited immediate impact on African American voter participation due to the removal of stringent voting protection clauses, it laid important groundwork for future civil rights legislation. It established the United States Commission on Civil Rights and the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, both of which would play crucial roles in the enforcement of civil rights laws.The act also set the stage for more robust civil rights legislation in the 1960s, including the Civil Rights Act of 1960, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Civil Rights Act of 1968. These later acts would build upon the foundation laid by the 1957 act, offering more comprehensive protections against discrimination and disenfranchisement. Overall, the Civil Rights Act of 1957 was a pivotal, if imperfect, step in the long journey toward civil rights and equality in America.The Biden administration has targeted 10 prescription drugs for price negotiations under Medicare, aiming to cut their costs by half on average by 2026. This move is part of Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law a year ago to address the high cost of medicines in the U.S. Among the drugs targeted are Eliquis, a blood thinner by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer, and AstraZeneca's Farxiga, which treats diabetes and heart failure. These drugs alone accounted for significant spending, with Eliquis costing Medicare $16 billion in the year through May 2023.Previously, the U.S. government was prohibited from negotiating drug prices due to a 2003 law that created Medicare's Part D program. However, the Inflation Reduction Act has mandated these negotiations. The drugs selected for this round of negotiations account for nearly $51 billion, or about 20% of Part D's prescription drug costs. Around 9 million people on Medicare took these drugs and paid $3.4 billion out-of-pocket last year.Pharmaceutical companies have criticized the move, arguing that it threatens innovation and intellectual property rights. Johnson & Johnson, which has two drugs on the list, stated that the policies put an "artificial deadline on innovation." The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) also warned that giving the government the power to set prices could have "significant negative consequences."The drug industry is currently suing to block these negotiations, and companies like Merck, Bristol, J&J, and AstraZeneca have each filed lawsuits. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is also seeking an injunction to halt the negotiations. Analysts project a manageable impact on industry revenue, estimating as much as a 5% hit. However, the government expects that the price negotiations will save Medicare $100 billion through 2031.Bristol, Lilly Blockbusters Targeted for Medicare Price Cuts (1)US names first 10 drugs for Medicare price negotiation | ReutersU.S. states are increasingly focusing on "opportunity transparency" to address pay gaps, requiring companies to be more transparent about promotion opportunities. Illinois and Colorado have enacted laws that will take effect in 2025 and next year, respectively, mandating employers to disclose information about promotions. New Jersey also has pending legislation on this issue. These efforts build on pay disclosure laws initiated in Colorado in 2021 and later adopted by states like Washington, New York, California, and Hawaii. These laws primarily aim to address pay disparities affecting women and people of color.The new rules are designed to counter the "shoulder tap" practice, where employees are quietly selected for promotions, often without the knowledge of their co-workers. This lack of transparency disproportionately affects women and minorities. A 2022 study by McKinsey & Co. and LeanIn found that for every 100 men promoted from entry-level to manager positions, only 87 women and 82 women of color are promoted. This contributes to men holding nearly two-thirds of managerial roles despite making up only half of the workforce.Colorado's law imposes fines of up to $10,000 per violation and mandates changes in business practices. It requires companies to notify all employees of job openings and promotions in writing, giving them sufficient time to apply. Amendments to the law will further require businesses to notify employees about all job openings, not just promotions.The Illinois law, effective in 2025, will require companies to announce all potential promotions to their current employees within 14 days of posting a position externally. It will also require the disclosure of salary ranges and a summary of benefits in job ads. These laws aim to have a "cascading impact" on pay equity, complementing other policy efforts like banning employers from asking about applicants' prior salary history.States Put New Spin on Pay Gap Laws With Promotion TransparencyThe American Bar Association (ABA) is forming a new task force to explore the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the legal profession. This move comes as law firms increasingly experiment with AI tools like ChatGPT, while also confronting ethical and practical challenges posed by the technology. The ABA Task Force on Law and Artificial Intelligence will be chaired by Lucy Thomson, a lawyer and cybersecurity engineer based in Washington, D.C. The group will include seven special advisors, such as former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and former U.S. Solicitor General Seth Waxman.The task force aims to assess how AI will affect the practice of law, probe ethical questions, and focus on issues like risk management, AI governance, and AI in legal education. ABA President Mary Smith emphasized the need to address both the "promise and the peril" of emerging technologies like AI. The initiative reflects a broader trend of growing interest in AI tools among legal professionals, including law schools considering the use of AI in applications and classrooms.By way of brief biographical background, Lucy Thomson, the group's chair, is the principal at a firm in Washington D.C., Livingston PLLC, that focuses on issues related to cyber security.Michael Chertoff was the co-author of the PATRIOT act, and former Secretary of Homeland Security under George W. Bush. Seth Waxman was Solicitor General of the United States from 1997 through 2001 and is frequently before the Supreme Court. The average age among the team is about 70, they're all lawyers, and none of them have any evident technical expertise.ABA taps prominent lawyers to tackle AI risks, opportunities | ReutersA U.S. District Judge, James Donato, is set to decertify a class-action lawsuit against Google involving 21 million consumers who claimed the tech giant violated federal antitrust laws through its Google Play app store. The decision could significantly reduce any damages that Google might owe for its distribution of Android mobile applications. The judge stated that his previous class certification order from November 2022 should be thrown out, as he decided not to allow an economist to testify as an expert witness for the consumers. This move eliminated an "essential element" of the consumers' argument for class certification. The class action had included consumers from 12 U.S. states and five territories, separate from a similar case brought by state attorneys general against Google.US judge set to decertify Google Play class action | Reuters Get full access to Minimum Competence - Daily Legal News Podcast at www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Photo: 1900. No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow #Uyghurs: #PRC: Blood cotton. Nury Turkel, commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill https://www.bbc.com/news/world-66337328

Photo: 1919 Lisbon.  No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow #Bestof2021:  The Uyghurs are watching Washington. Nury Turkel.  @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill. Nury Turkel, co-founder of the Uyghur Human Rights Project and a commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, on this: (Originally posted April  21, 2021) https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/04/19/break-their-lineage-break-their-roots/chinas-crimes-against-humanity-targeting

Photo: 1919. No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow #Bestof21: Reported PRC abduction of Uyghurs from Moslem countries. Nury Turkel @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill. Nury Turkel, co-founder of the Uyghur Human Rights Project and a commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill (Originally posted June 9, 2021) : https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/08/middleeast/uyghur-arab-muslim-china-disappearances-cmd-intl/index.html https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/uyghur-tribunal-06072021173432.html

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow #Bestof2021: Uighurs in Congress.@NuryTurkel, @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill.Nury A. Turkel, @nuryturkel, attorney and Uyghur human rights activist; commissioner at the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (Originally posted December 22, 2021) https://www.voanews.com/a/china-imposes-sanctions-on-us-officials-over-xinjiang/6363264.html

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow #Bestof2021: Foreign Business in China and the persecution of the Uyghurs.  @NuryTurkel @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill.  Nury Turkel, co-founder of the Uyghur Human Rights Project and a commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (Originally posted March 24, 2021) : https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/22/politics/us-eu-china-uyghur-sanctions/index.html

PHOTO: 1925 USS Trenton, USS Arizona. Off Haiti. NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS ON PUBLICATION. @BATCHELORSHOW #Bestof2022: The NBA has a China problem. Nury Turkel, commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/01/chamath-palihapitiya-has-deep-business-ties-to-china.html

PHOTO: 1925 Haiti. NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS ON PUBLICATION. @BATCHELORSHOW #Bestof2021: Marriott surrenders to genocide.   @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill.   Nury Turkel, @nuryturkel, commissioner at the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (Originally posted November 21, 2021) https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.foxbusiness.com/politics/marriott-refuses-to-host-uighur-conference-over-political-neutrality-concerns.amp

On this episode, Justin Shubow discusses his time as Chairman of the United States Commission of Fine Arts, as well as the future of classical design in federal architecture.

On this episode, Justin Shubow discusses his time as Chairman of the United States Commission of Fine Arts, as well as the future of classical design in federal architecture.

On "EWTN News Nightly" tonight: There are new developments in the House investigation into President Joe Biden's family, and a suspected "influence peddling and business scheme" involving foreign nationals from China. And President Biden discussed the debt ceiling during a speech in New York today, as Republican lawmakers and the president are running out of time to come to an agreement on resolving the critical matter. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control says drug overdose deaths in the United States have been on the rise for the past 2 decades. The most recent report offers some startling revelations. President and CEO of Adult and Teen Challenge, a Christian group focused on addiction and recovery, Gary Blackard, joins to tell us about the addiction epidemic in the US, how it started and where things stand now. And the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom released its annual report last week detailing the increase of religious violations around the world. President of Global Liberty Alliance, Jason Poblete, joins to share whether it surprises him to see countries like Nicaragua, Cuba and Nigeria on the list of countries of concern. Finally this evening, the Holy Year 2025 is approaching and preparations are well underway. A press conference at the Vatican outlined the program and the main new features of the event. EWTN Vatican Bureau Journalist, Benjamin Crockett has more. Don't miss out on the latest news and analysis from a Catholic perspective. Get EWTN News Nightly delivered to your email: https://ewtn.com/enn

Once again, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended in its 2023 Annual Report that Turkey be placed on the Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom. Tugba Tanyeri Erdemir, the coordinator of ADL's Task Force on Middle East Minorities and a non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute, joins Thanos Davelis to look at religious freedom conditions in Turkey and highlight the key issues raised in USCIRF's report. We also explore what steps the US can take to move things in the right direction on religious and human rights in Turkey.Read USCIRF's Annual Report here: 2023 USCIRF Annual ReportYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Athens pushes back against Tripoli maritime zone claimsChristodoulides meets Macron in ParisMacron affirms support on Cyprus problemPresident meets top Total executives in Paris

CLICK HERE to listen to episode audio (5:32).Sections below are the following: Transcript of Audio Audio Notes and Acknowledgments ImageExtra InformationSources Related Water Radio Episodes For Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.). Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 4-14-23. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of April 17 and April 24, 2023.  This episode, the sixth in a series on water in U.S. civil rights history, continues our exploration of water connections to the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. MUSIC – ~23 sec – instrumental. That's part of “Mississippi Farewell,” by Dieter van der Westen.  It opens an episode on how Mississippi River water and public health were the context for the first U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the meaning and extent of the 14th Amendment.  One of three constitutional amendments passed and ratified soon after the Civil War, the 14th Amendment aimed to guarantee citizenship rights and legal protections, especially for newly freed Black people.  In 1873, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in three consolidated cases about wastes from livestock processing facilities in Louisiana; this ruling had decades-long implications for key parts of the 14th Amendment and for civil rights.  Have a listen to the music for about 25 more seconds, and see if you know the name of these consolidated Supreme Court cases. MUSIC – ~27 sec – instrumental. If you guessed The Slaughterhouse Cases, you're right!  As of the 1860s, some 300,000 livestock animals were slaughtered annually at facilities along the Mississippi River in and around New Orleans, upstream of water supply intakes, with much of the untreated waste from the process reaching the river.  Concerns over the potential for diseases from this water contamination led the Louisiana legislature to pass the Slaughterhouse Act of 1869.  This law authorized a single corporation to operate one slaughterhouse facility on the Mississippi downstream of New Orleans and required all butchers in the area to use that facility.  Butchers' organizations filed suit, alleging that the law infringed on their work rights in violation of the 14th Amendment's clauses prohibiting states from abridging the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States and from denying people equal protection of the laws. On April 14, 1873, the Supreme Court issued its ruling, with the majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Miller.  Miller's opinion upheld the Louisiana law, finding that that the slaughterhouse monopoly granted by the state was within the police powers to provide for public health and sanitation.  Justice Miller went further, however, in asserting that the 14th Amendment gave the federal government jurisdiction only over federal, or national, citizenship rights—that is, privileges and immunities—but not over rights historically considered to result from state citizenship.  Miller also asserted that the amendment's equal protection clause applied only to the case of Black people emancipated from slavery.  The Slaughterhouse Cases decision, along with other related Supreme Court decisions during the Reconstruction Era, created long-lasting legal barriers to federal government efforts against state-level violations of civil rights, such as racial and gender discrimination, voting restrictions, and failure to prevent or prosecute racially-motivated crimes of violence. Thanks to Dieter van der Westen and Free Music Archive for making this week's music available for public use, and we close with about 20 more seconds of “Mississippi Farewell.” MUSIC – ~22 sec – instrumental. SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Ben Cosgrove for his version of “Shenandoah” to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “Mississippi Farewell,” from the 2022 album “Belin to Bamako,” was made available on Free Music Archive, online at at https://freemusicarchive.org/music/dieter-van-der-westen/berlin-to-bamako/mississippi-farewell/.  as of 4-12-23, for use under the Creative Commons License “Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International”; more information on that Creative Commons License is available online at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (2 min./22 sec.) of the “Shenandoah” arrangement/performance by Ben Cosgrove that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Cosgrove is available online at http://www.bencosgrove.com. IMAGE Birds' eye view of New Orleans in 1851.  Drawing by J. Bachman.  Image accessed from the Library of Congress' Prints and Photographs Online Catalog, online at https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/93500720, as of 4-18-23.  EXTRA INFORMATION ON THE 14TH AMENDMENT The following information about, and text of, the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was taken from National Archives, “Milestone Documents: 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Civil Rights (1868),” online at https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/14th-amendment. “Following the Civil War, Congress submitted to the states three amendments as part of its Reconstruction program to guarantee equal civil and legal rights to Black citizens.  A major provision of the 14th Amendment was to grant citizenship to ‘All persons born or naturalized in the United States,' thereby granting citizenship to formerly enslaved people. “Another equally important provision was the statement that ‘nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.'  The right to due process of law and equal protection of the law now applied to both the federal and state governments. “On June 16, 1866, the House Joint Resolution proposing the 14th Amendment to the Constitution was submitted to the states.  On July 28, 1868, the 14th amendment was declared, in a certificate of the Secretary of State, ratified by the necessary 28 of the 37 States, and became part of the supreme law of the land.” Text of 14th Amendment Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such state. Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void. Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. SOURCES Used for Audio Ashbrook Center at Ashland University, “Teaching American History/United States v. Cruikshank” undated, online at https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/united-states-v-cruikshank/. Jack Beatty, Age of Betrayal: The Triumph of Money in America, 1865-1900, Vintage Books, New York, N.Y., 2007. Ronald M. Labbe and Jonathan Lurie, The Slaughterhouse Cases: Regulation, Reconstruction, and the Fourteenth Amendment, University of Kansas Press, Lawrence, 2003. Danny Lewis, “The 1873 Colfax Massacre Crippled the Reconstruction Era,” Smithsonian Magazine, April 13, 2016. Linda R. Monk, The Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution, Hachette Books, New York, N.Y., 2015. Oyez (Cornell University Law School/Legal Information Institute, Justia, and Chicago-Kent College of Law), “Slaughter-House Cases,” online at https://www.oyez.org/cases/1850-1900/83us36. Melvin I. Urofsky and Paul Finkelman, A March of Liberty – A Constitutional History of the United States, Volume I: From the Founding to 1900, Third Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K., 2011. John R. Vile, “Slaughterhouse Cases (1873),” Middle Tennessee State University/The First Amendment Encyclopedia, online at https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/527/slaughterhouse-cases. Other Sources on the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Cornell University Law School/Legal Information Institute: “U.S. Constitution/14th Amendment,” online at https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxiv; and “Fourteenth Amendment,” online at https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/fourteenth_amendment_0. Thurgood Marshall Institute, “The 14th Amendment,” online at https://tminstituteldf.org/tmi-explains/thurgood-marshall-institute-briefs/tmi-briefs-the-14th-amendment/. NAACP, “Celebrate and Defend the Fourteenth Amendment Resolution,” 2013, online at https://naacp.org/resources/celebrate-and-defend-fourteenth-amendment. U.S. House of Representatives, “Constitutional Amendments and Major Civil Rights Acts of Congress Referenced in Black Americans in Congress,” online at https://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/BAIC/Historical-Data/Constitutional-Amendments-and-Legislation/. U.S. National Archives, “Milestone Documents: 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Civil Rights (1868),” online at https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/14th-amendment. U.S. Senate, “Landmark Legislation: The Fourteenth Amendment,” online at https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/senate-and-constitution/14th-amendment.htm. For More Information about Civil Rights in the United States British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), “The Civil Rights Movement in America,” online at https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zcpcwmn/revision/1. Howard University Law Library, “A Brief History of Civil Rights in the United States,” online at https://library.law.howard.edu/civilrightshistory/intro. University of Maryland School of Law/Thurgood Marshall Law Library, “Historical Publications of the United States Commission on Civil Rights,” online at https://law.umaryland.libguides.com/commission_civil_rights. U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, online at https://www.usccr.gov/. RELATED VIRGINIA WATER RADIO EPISODES All Water Radio episodes are listed by category at the Index link above (http://www.virginiawaterradio.org/p/index.html).  See particularly the “History” subject category. This episode is part of the series, Exploring Water in U.S. Civil Rights History.  As of April 17, 2023, other episodes in the series are as follows.Series overview – Episode 566, 3-1-21. Water Symbolism in African American Civil Rights History – Episode 591, 8-23-21. Uses of Water By and Against African Americans in U.S. Civil Rights History – Episode 616, 2-14-22. Water Places in U.S. Civil Rights History - Episode 619, 3-7-22.The 14th Amendment and Water-related Civil Rights Claims – Part 1: Introduction to the 14th Amendment – Episode 652, 4-3-23. FOR VIRGINIA TEACHERS – RELATED STANDARDS OF LEARNING (SOLs) AND OTHER INFORMATION Following are some Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) that may be supported by this episode's audio/transcript, sources, or other information included in this post. 2020 Music SOLs SOLs at various grade levels that call for “examining the relationship of music to the other fine arts and other fields of knowledge.” 2015 Social Studies SOLs Grades K-3 Civics Theme3.12 – Importance of government in community, Virginia, and the United States, including government protecting rights and property of individuals. Virginia Studies CourseVS.9 – How national events affected Virginia and its citizens. United States History to 1865 CourseUSI.9 – Causes, events, and effects of the Civil War. United States History: 1865-to-Present CourseUSII.3 – Effects of Reconstruction on American life.USII.8 – Economic, social, and political transformation of the United States and the world after World War II. Civics and Economics CourseCE.2 – Foundations, purposes, and components of the U.S. Constitution.CE.3 – Citizenship rights, duties, and responsibilities.CE.6 – Government at the national level.CE.7 – Government at the state level.CE.10 – Public policy at local, state, and national levels. Virginia and United States History CourseVUS.7 – Knowledge of the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. Government CourseGOVT.3 – Concepts of democracy.GOVT.4 – Purposes, principles, and structure of the U.S. Constitution.GOVT.5 – Federal system of government in the United States.GOVT.7 – National government organization and powers.GO

CLICK HERE to listen to episode audio (5:06).Sections below are the following: Transcript of Audio Audio Notes and Acknowledgments ImagesExtra InformationSources Related Water Radio Episodes For Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.). Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 3-31-23. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of April 3 and April 10, 2023.  This episode, the fifth in a series on water in U.S. civil rights history, begins an exploration of water connections to the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. MUSIC – ~17 sec – instrumental. That's part of “Maple Leaf Rag,” composed by Scott Joplin and performed by Zachary Brewster-Geisz.   Scott Joplin, an African American from Texas who became known as the king of ragtime music, was born in 1868.  That year also brought the effective “birth” of the the 14th Amendment, which was ratified in July 1868.  Have a listen to the music for about 20 more seconds, and see if you know four areas of rights addressed by the amendment. MUSIC – ~22 sec – instrumental. If you guessed any of these, you're right: citizenship, privileges and immunities, due process, and equal protection.  Let's have a listen to the Section 1 of the amendment: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.  No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Other sections of the amendment addressed citizens' right to vote, insurrection against the United States, Civil War debts and compensation, and finally—of great importance to future civil rights legislation—Congressional authority to enforce the amendment. The late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, in a 1987 speech, said the following about the 14th Amendment: quote, “While the Union survived the civil war, the Constitution did not.  In its place arose a new, more promising basis for justice and equality, the 14th Amendment, ensuring protection of the life, liberty, and property of all persons against deprivations without due process, and guaranteeing equal protection of the laws,” unquote. There may be no more important development in U.S. civil rights history—certainly in its legal history—than passage and ratification of the 14th Amendment.  Interestingly from a water perspective, the first U.S. Supreme Court interpretation of the amendment, in 1873, addressed a law focused on water and public health; about 100 years later, water infrastructure was at issue in another significant federal court claim under the amendment; and water infrastructure is the subject of a 2022 complaint filed under the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, for which the amendment is a significant constitutional foundation.  This episode's overview sets the stage for upcoming episodes on those three 14th Amendment water stories. Thanks to Zachary Brewster-Geisz for making a recording of “Maple Leaf Rag” available for public use, and we close with about 20 more seconds of that well-known Scott Joplin tune. MUSIC – ~22 sec – instrumental. SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Stewart Scales for his banjo version of “Cripple Creek” to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “Maple Leaf Rag,” composed by Scott Joplin, was first published in 1899.  The recording heard in this Virginia Water Radio episode was by Zachary Brewster-Geisz, June 2006, made available on Free Music Archive, online at https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Joplin/Frog_Legs_Ragtime_Era_Favorites/03_-_scott_joplin_-_maple_leaf_rag/, as of 4-3-23, for use under Creative Commons Mark 1.0 License – Public Domain; more information on that Creative Commons License is available online at https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/. Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (1 min./11 sec.) of the “Cripple Creek” arrangement/performance by Stewart Scales that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Scales and the group New Standard, with which Mr. Scales plays, is available online at http://newstandardbluegrass.com. IMAGES Photographs of the June 1866 joint resolution in Congress proposing the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  Images taken from the National Archives, online at https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/fourteenth-amendment, as of 4/3/23.  The images are made available for use under the Creative Commons license “Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International”; more information about that Creative Commons license is available online at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/. EXTRA INFORMATION ON THE 14TH AMENDMENT The following information about, and text of, the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was taken from National Archives, “Milestone Documents: 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Civil Rights (1868),” online at https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/14th-amendment. “Following the Civil War, Congress submitted to the states three amendments as part of its Reconstruction program to guarantee equal civil and legal rights to Black citizens.  A major provision of the 14th Amendment was to grant citizenship to ‘All persons born or naturalized in the United States,' thereby granting citizenship to formerly enslaved people. “Another equally important provision was the statement that ‘nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.'  The right to due process of law and equal protection of the law now applied to both the federal and state governments. “On June 16, 1866, the House Joint Resolution proposing the 14th Amendment to the Constitution was submitted to the states.  On July 28, 1868, the 14th amendment was declared, in a certificate of the Secretary of State, ratified by the necessary 28 of the 37 States, and became part of the supreme law of the land.” Text of 14th Amendment Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such state. Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void. Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Clifford D. May is the founder and president of FDD, a nonpartisan policy institute focusing on national security created immediately following the 9/11/01 attacks on the United States.Under his leadership, FDD has become one of the nation's most highly regarded think tanks and a sought-after voice on a wide range of national security issues. He has helped assemble a staff and advisory board of the most compelling scholars and experts whose research, ideas, and recommendations have shaped important policies and legislation on terrorism, nonproliferation, human rights, Islamism, democratization, and related issues.Cliff has had a long and distinguished career in international relations, journalism, communications, and politics. A veteran news reporter, foreign correspondent and editor (at The New York Times and other publications), he has covered stories around the world, including datelines from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, the U.A.E., Bahrain, Oman, Sudan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Chad, Mexico, Argentina, Northern Ireland, Hungary, Kazakhstan, China, and Russia.From 2016 to 2018, Cliff served as a commissioner on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission that makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress in order to advance the pivotal right of religious freedom around the world, and integrate religious freedom into America's foreign policy.In 2006, he was appointed an advisor to the Iraq Study Group (Baker-Hamilton Commission) of the United States Institute of Peace, an independent nonpartisan national institution established and funded by Congress. He also received a two-year appointment (2007 to 2009) to the bipartisan Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion, reporting to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. In 2008, he was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve on the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the entity responsible for all U.S. government and government-sponsored, non-military, international broadcasting. In 2009, the U.S. Department of State awarded him a “U.S. Speaker and Specialist Grant” for a series of speaking engagements and meetings (with government and religious leaders, academics, and journalists) in Pakistan.He served as the communications director for the Republican National Committee during the historic 2000 cycle in which Republicans won the presidency, the Senate and the House for the first time in 48 years (as well as a majority of state legislatures and governors' mansions).A former syndicated columnist for Scripps Howard News Services, he is now the weekly “Foreign Desk” columnist of The Washington Times. He is a frequent guest on national and international television and radio news programs, providing analysis and participating in debates on national security issues. His writing has also appeared in The Wall Street Journal, National Review, Commentary, USA Today, The Atlantic, and many other publications. He is the co-editor of a book on the conflict in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as one on energy policy.Cliff holds master's degrees from both Columbia University's School of International Affairs and its School of Journalism. His undergraduate degree is from Sarah Lawrence College, and he holds a certificate in Russian language and literature from Leningrad State University, USSR. He is a member of the Washington Institute of Foreign Affairs. He is married and has two children.

In today's episode, conservative scholar Robert George and Andrew Walker discuss the idea of the common good and how it informs American conservatism. Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, is one of the most influential conservative intellectuals of his generation. Among many honors and accolades, George received the US Presidential Citizens Medal from President George W. Bush and served as chairman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). Andrew T. Walker is associate professor of Christian Ethics at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and an associate dean in the School of Theology. He serves as the executive director of the Carl F. H. Henry Institute for Evangelical Engagement and as managing editor of WORLD Opinions.  To read the book Andrew Walker edited about Robert George's life and work, check out Social Conservatism for the Common Good: A Protestant Engagement with Robert P. George. Read the full transcript of this episode. If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show! Complete this survey for a free audiobook by Kevin DeYoung!

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow #PRC: ClassicNuryTurkel: The revolt didn't start with Covid lockdowns: The Uyghurs are watching Washington. Nury Turkel.  @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill #v Nury Turkel, co-founder of the Uyghur Human Rights Project and a commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, on this: https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/04/19/break-their-lineage-break-their-roots/chinas-crimes-against-humanity-targeting

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow #PRC: #ClassicNuryTurkel: The Uyghur rebellion well ahead of Shanghai rebellion: Reported PRC abduction of Uyghurs from Moslem countries. Nury Turkel @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill #v Nury Turkel, co-founder of the Uyghur Human Rights Project and a commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, on these: https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/08/middleeast/uyghur-arab-muslim-china-disappearances-cmd-intl/index.html https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/uyghur-tribunal-06072021173432.html

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow #The long lead-up to #Urumqi rebels:  The persecution of the Uyghurs 2009-2021.@NuryTurkel @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill (Originally posted Marc 24, 2021) Nury Turkel, co-founder of the Uyghur Human Rights Project and a commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom : https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/22/politics/us-eu-china-uyghur-sanctions/index.html

It's advent season, but how can we feel excited about the coming birth of Jesus when the United States continues to carry out sanctions and an illegal blockade against the Cuban people? So, throughout this advent season, we're going to focus on stories about Cuba. We're kicking the series off with an episode about the weird narrative about religious freedom that the US pushes. The big weird document we keep talking about in this episode is called Constitutional Reform and Religious Freedom in Cuba written by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. You can find it here

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, a native New Yorker who grew up playing baseball with Irish and neighborhood kids in Rockaway, Queens,. is Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a leading global Jewish human rights organization. 
 Rabbi Cooper has been a longtime activist for Jewish and human rights causes on five continents. In 1977, he came to Los Angeles to help Rabbi Marvin Hier found the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Together with Rabbi Hier, Rabbi Cooper regularly meets with world leaders, including Pope Francis, presidents, and foreign ministers to defend the rights of the Jewish people, combat terrorism and promote multi-faith relations worldwide. Rabbi Cooper is an acknowledged expert on online hate and terrorism and has helped produce and present the SWC's renowned traveling exhibitions at the Vatican, the UN, Knesset, US Congress, Tokyo, New Delhi, and Buenos Aires. He is a founder of the Global Forum on Anti-Semitism, and Newsweek ranked Rabbis Cooper and Hier as #8 among the 50 most influential rabbis in America. Rabbi Cooper has worked extensively with Arab leaders in the Gulf States and witnessed the historic UAE/Bahrain/Israel Abraham Accords ceremony at the White House. In 2022, Rabbi Cooper was appointed Vice Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom which tracks violations of religious freedom around the world. 
Rabbi Cooper co-authored with Rev. Johnnie Moore, The Next Jihad, based on their interviews in Nigeria with scores of Christian survivors of deadly Islamist terrorist attacks. His op-eds appear in major US and Israeli outlets, in Asia and in the Arab News and Al-Arabiya. Rabbi Cooper is a recipient of Yeshiva University's Bernard Revel Community Service Leadership Memorial Award, a recipient of an honorary doctorate from Yeshiva University and the Orthodox Union's National Leadership Award. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-aidan-byrne0/support

Today's guest is Stephen Schneck, a political philosopher by training and a well-known advocate for Catholic social justice teachings in public life. He spent more than 30 years at The Catholic University of America as a professor, department chair and dean, and he was the founder and long-time director of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies. He's worked with Catholic Climate Covenant, Catholic Mobilizing Network, Franciscan Action Network and as a member of the Obama Administration's White House Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. And now, he's here to talk to us about his latest role. He was just recently appointed by President Biden to serve as a commissioner on the bipartisan United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. What is the US Commission on International Religious Freedom? What does it do? Steve provides answers—as well as insights into why religious freedom and the freedom of belief are so important to communities around the globe. He highlights a few key issues and regions where religious freedom is particularly threatened that we should keep our eyes on. And he offers his reflections on how Catholics in the United States can advocate on this issue. Below you can find the full excerpt from "Fratelli tutti" that is mentioned during the episode: “Ancient conflicts thought long buried are breaking out anew, while instances of a myopic, extremist, resentful and aggressive nationalism are on the rise. In some countries, a concept of popular and national unity influenced by various ideologies is creating new forms of selfishness and a loss of the social sense under the guise of defending national interests. … there are those who appear to feel encouraged or at least permitted by their faith to support varieties of narrow and violent nationalism, xenophobia and contempt, and even the mistreatment of those who are different.” (FT 11/86)

On our second to last episode in our series, Momentum: Civil Rights in the 1950s, We learn about the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and the commission born of it. For two years, the United States Commission on Civil Rights researched and released a 600+ page report about the state of voting rights in the US.They found, time after time, accounts of Black Americans who faced roadblocks and threats of violence or economic punishment when they tried to register to vote. Fear played a large role in preventing Black Americans from voting. But the tides are slowly changing, and there are many dedicated people working to make civil rights gains. We return to learning about Thurgood Marshall as his career–and influence–evolves over time. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this episode, Martha is joined by the Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Nury Turkel, to discuss the imprisonment of Uyghur Muslims within China.   Nury explains the technology that the Chinese government uses to monitor the Uyghurs, the reality of life inside a Chinese "re-education camp", and how countries around the globe continue to turn a blind eye to China.  Follow Martha on Twitter: @MarthaMacCallum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Photo: #PRC Bachelet fails the Uyghurs. Nury Turkel, commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/05/29/china-bachelet-un-xinjiang-rights-visit/ Nury A. Turkel   @nuryturkel, attorney and Uyghur human rights activist; commissioner on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. 

Photo: #PRC: Genocide and Crimes against Humanity. Nury Turkel, commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and author of a new book, No Escape: The True Story of China's Genocide of the Uyghurs. @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/05/12/president-biden-met-uyghur-activists-china-transnational-repression/

Photo:   Khotan Uighurs, Yettishar (19th century)               Хотанские уйгуры, Йеттишяр #PRC: What will the UN say of the Uyghurs?  Nury A. Turkel   @nuryturkel, attorney and Uyghur human rights activist; commissioner on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill https://www.voanews.com/a/un-team-in-china-ahead-of-rights-chief-visit-to-xinjiang-/6545759.html