Freedom by Means of Authoritarianism

https://justandsinner.libsyn.com/how-the-modern-world-misunderstands-freedom-a-conversation-with-brad-littlejohn

Littlejohn of The Davenant Institute is an avowed disciple of the Doug Wilson sect and offers his appreciation to not only Wilson and Douglas Jones, but Peter Leithart. This reveals a great deal in terms of his formation.

Surveillance Revisionism

I happened to catch some Newsmax on a recent night and couldn't help but grin listening to the commentators drone on about the surveillance state and how the citizenry shouldn't have to give up so much of its personal data.

Many will have no problem with giving up their data to corporations - who in turn affect and shape state policy and effectively lobby the government.

American Christendom and Apostasy

https://theaquilareport.com/is-america-part-of-christendom/

There seems to be virtually an endless stream of articles like this - trying to tweak definitions or steer the conversation, but always missing the point.

A Dangerous Precedent Regarding Speech

https://consortiumnews.com/2025/02/07/medhurst-detained-by-austrian-police-accused-of-being-hamas-member-uk-investigation-against-him-extended/

Though this story dates from February it is still relevant and still a source of concern. Increasingly Western governments are equating anti-Israel and anti-Zionist speech with being pro-Hamas and tantamount to expressing support for that democratically elected political organisation.

Trump and the Shepherds for Sale

https://religionnews.com/2025/03/10/defunded-evangelical-aid-groups-are-reaping-what-the-religious-right-sowed/

I'm sure many readers have already seen these headlines about Evangelical funding being cut by DOGE - and no doubt many caught the fact that there's something poetic about these developments.

Bait and Switch - Cal Thomas on the Constitutional Crisis

https://calthomas.com/2025/02/whom-to-blame-for-the-crisis/

Unfortunately I must report that Cal Thomas is still producing commentaries and this one appeared in our local newspaper the other day.

It's a case of classic bait-and-switch tactics. He ignores the issues surrounding the Constitutional Crisis and instead ventures down a dishonest rabbit trail of revisionism and spin. In other words, it's classic Cal Thomas.

Gabbard Sells Out on FISA

https://consortiumnews.com/2025/01/15/patrick-lawrence-the-predictable-capitulation-of-tulsi-gabbard/

Gabbard was one of those interesting people that captured a lot of attention from the Left and within Alternative Media circles for her opposition to the war in Syria and her general scepticism regarding US foreign policy at the time. It was the second or late phase of the War on Terror - the fallout from the Arab Spring, the campaigns in Syria and Libya, and the war against ISIS. She was a backer of Bernie Sanders and generally speaking had become a pariah to the DNC Establishment. The GOP viewed her as something akin to a traitor.

Recess Appointments and Originalism

If facing resistance from the Senate, the incoming Trump administration has indicated it would like to utilise 'recess appointments' for incoming cabinet members - a provision granted in the Constitution. The new Senate majority leader John Thune has signalled he may be willing to facilitate this by taking the body into recess for no reason other than allowing Trump to push his cabinet nominees through.

Sacralist Jurisprudence and Evangelical Syncretism

https://reformedforum.org/podcasts/ctc877/

I've been listening to Christ the Center since about 2009. An interesting podcast most of the time, this episode was an exception. After realizing the guest was a law professor at Liberty University, I almost turned it off. I struggle to take anyone associated with Liberty seriously, but I decided to give it a listen.

NPR on Trump: The Threat of Authoritarianism Challenged by the Imperial Establishment

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/21/nx-s1-5155005/trump-threatens-to-use-the-military-and-doj-to-go-after-those-who-are-disloyal

It's enough to make you take to your bed. The media storm has become such a morass, such a realm of chaos. It's often case of liars calling out liars and answering distortions with what can only be described as manipulation.

To make sense of this story or exchange it helps one to think of clash between the Roman Empire under the Late Republic and the threat of Sullan Dictatorship. Both were evil entities and yet the political winds are noteworthy and applicable. Lives were affected as was the course of subsequent history. That's no less true today. As Christians we live in this society and even though we're strangers and pilgrims it behooves us to understand what is happening.

The Rights Granted by America's Enlightenment Creator

A few weeks ago the Christian and Right-wing media-spheres blew up over comments made by Politico's Heidi Przybyla in which she seemed to suggest that Christian Nationalists are those who believe rights are derived from God as opposed to the state.

The Georgia Indictment, RICO, and Rudy Giuliani

I have not been watching all of the news coverage but I would hope that someone would point out the irony present in this situation. Giuliani has been swept up in the Georgia indictment on the basis of RICO – the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Article 5 and Empire

https://thehill.com/policy/international/3587018-senate-defeats-rand-paul-amendment-to-nato-resolution-clarifying-war-powers/

The US Establishment doesn't want to jeopardize this key tool by allowing it to become a political football. Also this vote and rejection of Paul's amendment must be viewed in light of the Trump presidency and the damage he did to NATO by suggesting Article 5 might be subject to question. Paul's amendment more or less is a pathway to the same argument and uncommitted position and as such not only weakens the treaty but effectively violates the terms Washington already agreed to.

The Ghost of Woodrow Wilson

https://apnews.com/article/russian-interference-florida-elections-americans-charged-32324ddc67b2f32b0cdab13db6f6acb4

During World War I, the Wilson administration targeted dissenters and critics of America's war policy and in many cases jailed and deported them. Even suggesting that someone shouldn't register for the draft was enough to warrant an investigation and possible arrest. It was also a time of vigilante groups, and unofficial 'shadow' units within police and sheriff's departments. Groups like the American Legion also played a part in pursuing and harassing critics of the war.

Evangelicals Once More Celebrating Disobedience and Stupidity

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/high-school-football-coach-scores-big-win-supreme-court-post-game-prayer

Given the magnitude of the Dobbs v. Jackson abortion decision, the Kennedy v. Bremerton ruling regarding the religious liberty of a football coach was in many ways under reported. It's getting some attention but if Roe v. Wade had not been overturned, this ruling would be front and center. Its implications are potentially vast.

Bush Isn't Funny

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/5/22/george-w-bush-is-not-funny

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEg6Ht2pNH0

For several years – but certainly for the past few months we have been subjected to media expressions of moral outrage and disgust over Putin's actions and his invasion of Ukraine. And it goes beyond the media – celebrities, the public sector, corporations and the like have all jumped on this bandwagon. Even a regional Russian Festival was canceled as it was deemed inappropriate to celebrate Russian culture at this time – which ironically it must be noted that about half of the music and dances in the event were... you guessed it, Ukrainian.

Mass Killing by Knife and Evangelical Gun Culture

https://www.news10.com/news/rensselaer-county/police-deescalate-hostage-situation-at-troy-stewarts/

You don't read about mass killings by knife too often do you? I've written about this before, as have many others. Here's another recent case, pertinent in light of the recent wave of mass shootings in the United States.

Mike Lindell and The Family

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDq3wTYb4QU

https://crooksandliars.com/2021/09/lindell-jesus-christ-trump

Lindell who is closely connected to Trump and was involved in the post-election coup plotting (that culminated in the failed January 6 putsch) has been a rising star in Christian Right circles. At the same time he has alienated sponsors and been forced out of some media circles. It's been remarkable (if disconcerting) to watch how the Evangelical community has rallied around him.

Guns and People

It didn't take long for the Right-wing spin machine to kick in. A man in Norway attempted a massacre by means of bow and arrow. This is clear evidence that guns don't kill people – people do.

The Afghan Legacies of George W Bush and Tony Blair

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/7/31/george-w-bush-should-shut-up-and-go-away

The author of the editorial is correct in exposing a rather startling truth - men like George Bush have no conscience. A man who should be in sackcloth and ashes is instead living the good life and has been largely rehabilitated in the eyes of the American public.