Grateful to Religion News Association for the 1st place award in analysis for this piece on Angela Paxton during Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial. RNA is an excellent resource for reporters doing the impt work of understanding the belief systems behind our politics.
texasmonthly.com/news-politics/…

“The only ones who seemed to think that chaplains could substitute for trained counselors were lawmakers. ... ‘It’s checking a box on the Christian nationalist scorecard. [Lawmakers] don’t care about it one way or another.’”
Bekah McNeel for Texas Monthly
texasmonthly.com/news-politics/…

oh my godddd

i truly think those of us who grew up in purity culture + have somehow navigated our way toward healthy sexual & gender ethics(?) + enthusiastically help others get free + still manage to respect a diversity of attitudes around it all...we are legit built different

If there's one conversation I'm really excited to follow...this is it.

sojo.net/magazine/may-2… via Sojourners

Appreciate Bekah McNeel's new Sojourners piece on Christians wading into the psychedelic space: sojo.net/magazine/may-2…

Having just reported on the topic for the The Revealer, I appreciate the angle Bekah brings (and the cover art from the mag is 🔥)

How we say “I love you” in San Antonio.

NYC Parent Council Seeks Trans Sports Policy Change, Condemned by Chancellor The 74 the74million.org/article/nyc-pa…

These two photos pretty well summarize my personal range as a parent.

When this is the response to grief from the “wisest man in all the land” is it small wonder so many of us have religious trauma?

The GOP primary has yanked the lower chamber, once again, to the right—a huge victory for Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. texasmonthly.com/news-politics/…

More Migrants Are Drowning in the Rio Grande Than Ever. No Agency Is Keeping Track of How Many.
Immigration policy is designed to force those entering Texas to cross at dangerous choke points. Must-read Aaron M. Nelsen on what happens to those who don't survive: texasmonthly.com/news-politics/…

We know it when we see it.

Why Is Texas the Epicenter of Christian Nationalism? – Texas Monthly texasmonthly.com/news-politics/…

It’s been wild to watch the state and people I’ve known my whole life drift into this. Ryan Burge 📊 is right, we don’t have a good, measurable definition. But the way it’s working, policy-wise, is undeniably extreme and I do think we are all having to learn to recognize it.

Current obsession at the McNeel house

“Ever since Constantine declared the Roman Empire a Christian state, James Talarico said, those seeking political power have been ‘taming this wild religion, domesticating it, making it less of a threat, and using it to advance their own goals.’”

texasmonthly.com/news-politics/…