News & Ideas

Monday’s News & Ideas - 3/2/2026

  • Ayatollah Ali Khamenei killed
  • Sobering up in church
  • Reporter on clergy abuse scandal
  • Churches suing ICE
  • Rachel Held Evans book
  • Indigenous slavery

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic since 1989, is dead at 86
The Associated Press: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei assembled theocratic power in Iran over the decades as its top leader and sought to turn it into a regional powerhouse, bringing it into confrontation with Israel and the United States over its nuclear program while crushing democracy protests.

A priest helped her see her drinking problem. Talks with Jesus kept her sober. She’s not the only one
CNN: What finally made her sobriety stick, Jenny Teeters said, was a newfound faith in a higher power.

He broke the story of the US Catholic clergy abuse scandal. Now he reflects on struggling to keep his faith
The Guardian: Reporter Jason Berry ponders on how to repair a religious structure long thought of as good but supported by an evil underside.

Churches vs. ICE
Politico: Thousands of congregations have sued over a policy change that opens the door for ICE raids at houses of worship.

What Rachel Held Evans knew about not going to church*
Sojourners: “Braving the Truth” is a new book with a collection of blog posts by the late Rachel Held Evans.

The Spark

The hidden history of Native American enslavement
Indigenous slavery,* which lasted for centuries, has gone by many names. A new public history project wants us to see it for what it was, The New Yorker says.

*access is limited for nonsubscribers



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Friday's News & Ideas - 5/8/2026

  • LA fire recovery
  • Prayer event largely Christian
  • Pope deals with customer service
  • Road map for UMC
  • Joni Lamb dies
  • My mother made magic happen

Thursday’s News & Ideas - 5/7/2026

  • SBC member numbers decline
  • Trust in health influencers
  • Pope Leo’s first year
  • Women take Orthodox exam
  • Death penalty abolition
  • Living like Costco people

Wednesday’s News & Ideas - 5/6/2026

  • Vatican criticizes conversion therapy
  • PCA church lawsuit on gender bias
  • Jewish seminary shuts campus
  • Poll on religion messages by Trump
  • Questioning religion
  • David Attenborough’s voice
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