Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons

Opinion | Why James Talarico's unapologetic Christianity could be his secret weapon James Talarico has won the Texas Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, the AP projects, beating U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett. The hype is real.

Check out @guthriegf.bsky.social 's new op-ed at @ms.now on what Talarico's win means for religion and politics. www.ms.now/opinion/jame...

“One cannot worship this false god of nationalism and the God of christianity at the same time” MLK

BREAKING: James Talarico wins the Democratic Senate primary in Texas.

Talarico ran on fighting corruption in DC, and winning back power for working people.

In an era of vast inequality Talarico told voters that “billionaires are waging class warfare against the rest of us.”

Wow: In the early vote, it's a blow-out *so far*.

Rodney Sadler, the progessive pastor and activist, leads state Representative Carla Cunningham 75% to 18%.

(Stay tuned as we see how the Election Day vote compares, but that's an ominous start for the incumbent.)

Context:

I expect early returns from this race imminently, and it's one I have my eyes glued on. Stay tuned.

The most absurd sentence is the following one: "This isn't a war. We haven't declared war." Something isn't happening if you don't say it out loud.

A picture of a poster that reads: Time to take a stand! Religious extremism threatens our democracy, our communities, and individual freedoms. Interfaith Alliance is a counterforce: challenging the dangerous ideas of Project 2025 by mobilizing people of diverse faiths and beliefs to achieve democracy together. INTERFAITH ALLIANCE FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES Inter FaithAlliance.org

A picture of a mini zine that reads: Time to take a stand! Religious extremism threatens our democracy, our communities, and individual freedoms. Interfaith Alliance is a counterforce: challenging the dangerous ideas of Project 2025 by mobilizing people of diverse faiths and beliefs to achieve democracy together. INTERFAITH ALLIANCE FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES Inter FaithAlliance.org On the other page:: save PBS! Dropped any streaming services lately? Check out PBS Passport! Only $5/mo for amazing content! Stream an incredible variety of hit drama, mystery, history, science and art shows on your own schedule. Support PBS and unlock everything PBS Passport has to offer! Be smart!

Interfaith Alliance has free training in nonviolent civil resistance for faith leaders, organizers, and supporters. Get trained. Get ready. Get others involved.

We love what they stand for & have featured them in our mini ‘zine (Wink.)

interfaithalliance.org/training

💙 @interfaithalliance.org 💙

The Trump Administration Has No Legal Authority To Invoke National Security and Take Over Elections As long recognized by courts, the U.S. Constitution gives primary authority to states to set the rules for elections, with no role for presidents.

Trump has ZERO AUTHORITY under the Constitution to take over federal elections, even if he claims there's a national security threat. Check out this new @americanprogress.bsky.social report, which I co-authored, explaining why.
www.americanprogress.org/article/the-...

Popular KC-area pastor considers independent Senate run to unseat Roger Marshall Adam Hamilton, the founding pastor of the nation’s largest United Methodist church, is embarking on a listening tour across Kansas.

Wow! Adam Hamilton, pastor of the largest United Methodist congregation in the country, is considering independent campaign to unseat GOP Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas.
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...

Talk about mainline Protestantism waking up!

This is the sort of pre-emptive attacks we need to see more of.

Telling those who pander to Trump NOW that their gains will be reversed THEN. Which makes the expected gains lower NOW, and thus lowers the incentives NOW to do the bad things.

See also: ICE/CBP employment.

Colorado faith communities rally around state’s immigrants in face of ICE deportation push Coloradans of varied faith backgrounds described turning the Biblical command of “love thy neighbor” into action.

“The majority of people being detained by ICE are law-abiding folks who are in the immigration process,” says Shara Smith, CEO of the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado. “...We can respect our laws without sacrificing our own humanity in the process.” // Story by @lizzy-hernandez.bsky.social

Democrats Need Religious Candidates - and Religious Voters Non-religious liberals might get uncomfortable at the visible piety of candidates like Andy Beshear and James Talarico. But they're important for the party's future.

“Politics is about identity, and if people keep seeing the Republican Party as the Christian one and the Democratic Party as the non-religious one, Democrats are giving up on a path to persuade a lot of people who might be open to their arguments.“ open.substack.com/pub/paulwald...

All Dems should unite in condemning messages like this. Separation of church and state is certainly no reason to keep religious people out of politics.

Messaging like this will continue to doom Democrats of all faiths and nonreligious Dems alike.

Beshear is interesting in that he has every reason to go full Blue Dog Dem for political reasons yet he actually has progressive principles and sticks to them

This sentiment (not uncommon the Left, sadly) radically misunderstands the U.S. religious landscape. For example, Talarico and Beshear are both mainline Protestants and not “evangelicals.” Also, faith-based advocacy is a vital part of progressive movement.

Don't confuse all Christians with evangelicals. It's true Dems shouldn't bother with evangelicals but they should address mainline Protestants (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-christ...). Beshear & Talarico are mainliners & can speak to swing group that reads Bible differently than evangelicals.

What James Talarico’s Jesus-Free Super Bowl Ad Says About His Campaign The seminarian launched his bid for the U.S. Senate on an explicitly religious platform. As he battles Jasmine Crockett, his messaging seems to have shifted.

James Talarico talks about his faith so much that it's news when he DOESN'T in one ad -- what a change for Democrats! www.texasmonthly.com/news-politic...

NO KINGS: Eyes on ICE: Document and Record YouTube video by No Kings

Over 21K people on this #NoKings Eyes on ICE call. Check it out. www.youtube.com/live/4xBUa67...

John Cornyn embraces progressive Christianity!

I can’t tell you how much I love that @raushenbush.bsky.social was on CSPAN counter-programming Trump, who was on CSPAN 2 with his tired blasphemy at the National (Make a Mockery of) Prayer Breakfast.

Watch here: www.c-span.org/program/wash...

MAGA’s War on Empathy This crisis in Minneapolis reveals a deep moral rot at the heart of Trump’s movement.

This is one of the best reflections on religion in politics I've ever seen written by a politician.

Revives my longstanding anger that Hillary's presidential campaigns didn't make this kind of messaging and political analysis part central to their strategy: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

Repent!

Yes, you can always count on Jack to be there!

Join us tonight! bit.ly/nationalfaithcalltoaction

A video of Alex Pretti reading out the final salute of an unnamed veteran he cared for until the end of his life in the ICU, posted to Facebook by his son.

Man, I bet the NRA is going to be furious when they hear that jack-booted thugs from the federal government executed a law-abiding citizen for exercising his Second Amendment right to carry a handgun.

Any second now, I'm sure.

He was a white guy, if that helps?

Hello? NRA?

The Trump-Vance administration just used your taxes to pay for ICE agents to kill a 37-year-old nurse, who was only there because another ICE agent killed a 37-year-old mother of three, who was only there because ICE agents are kidnapping your neighbors

Cannot see the end of it.

Inside the effort to organize clergy nationwide to resist ICE (RNS)— Hundreds of clergy from around the country gathered in Minneapolis to learn from Minnesota faith leaders how to protest against ICE enforcement. Then they took to the streets and helped block t...

NEW: I was one of 3 reporters granted access to the convening of 600+ clergy in Minneapolis this week.

It was a striking show of solidarity with MN clergy resisting ICE, but heralded something else: the emergence of a vast, faith-based network trained to resist ICE. religionnews.com/2026/01/23/i...