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The Rev. William Barber II: Fighting Autocrats Starts at the Grassroots

"This Is Our Selma"—and a debate challenge to Speaker Mike Johnson. Turn out 1,500 more voters per county in North Carolina. That's the threshold. The Reverend William Barber II has analyzed the numbers and believes that's wh...

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Feb. 9, 2026

The Rev. William Barber II: Fighting Autocrats Starts at the Grassroo…

"This Is Our Selma"—and a debate challenge to Speaker Mike Johnson. Turn out 1,500 more voters per county in North Carolina. That's the threshold. The Reverend William Barber II has analyzed the numbers and believes that's wh...

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Feb. 2, 2026

Abortions Rose After Dobbs—And the March for Life Knows It

The applause was muted when Trump appeared on video. One year ago, the March for Life felt like a rock concert. This year, JD Vance had to contend with detractors from the stage. The pro-life movement got what it wanted—Dobbs...

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Jan. 26, 2026

Quiet Quitting Church: When the Numbers Reveal Everything and Explain…

Trying to put smoke in a box That's what it feels like to map why churches are dying. Most people who leave can't tell you why. They drifted. Three times a month became twice, then never. Ryan Burge , a sociologist and pastor...

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Jan. 20, 2026

They Shot the Pastor Anyway: When Religious Authority Met Federal Fo…

Faith leaders thought their collars would protect them. They were wrong. The Presbyterian minister was wearing his collar. DHS shot him with pepper balls anyway. Across American cities—LA, DC, Chicago, Minneapolis—clergy are ...

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Jan. 14, 2026

What Happened? Top Religion News Stories of 2025 — And What To Watch …

A Special Episode from The State of Belief! A special crossover from The State of Belief : RNS reporters Jack Jenkins and Adelle M. Banks join Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to break down the biggest religion stories of 2025 ...

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Jan. 12, 2026

A Dictator Was Seized. The Pope Spoke. Everyone Else Paused.

Religious leaders stayed mostly silent when the U.S. seized a foreign dictator — except for the pope. Religious leaders stayed mostly silent when the U.S. grabbed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and flew him to New York. ...

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