Thursday’s News & Ideas - 6/26/2025

How US adults’ views on same-sex marriage have changed since the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling
The Associated Press: For years, it looked as though the United States was steadily climbing toward a consensus on same-sex marriage. But 10 years after the Supreme Court ruled that there is a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, the split between Republicans and Democrats on the issue is wider than it’s been in decades.

Spirituality and religion: How does the U.S. compare with other countries?
Pew Research: An interactive narrative walks through data from the U.S. and 35 other countries we surveyed in 2023 and 2024.

Zohran Mamdani’s Muslim faith quickly targeted after his victory in NYC mayoral primary
Religion News Service: If elected, the 33-year-old democratic socialist will become the city’s first Muslim mayor.
The New York Times: Young Muslims loved Zohran Mamdani, and their parents listened to them*

Jewish Federations allocate $10 million for Israeli Jews in wake of war with Iran
Religion News Service: The money comes from the Jewish Federations of North America’s Israel Emergency Fund, which has raised $897 million since Oct. 7, 2023.

Porto celebrates the summer and a beloved saint with plastic hammers, sardines and leeks
The Associated Press: A Christian holiday with pagan roots, the eve of the feast of St. John the Baptist is celebrated with fireworks, balloons and lots of grilled sardines.

The Spark

Harvard hired a researcher to uncover its ties to slavery. He says the results cost him his job: “We found too many slaves”
When the extent of the university’s involvement with slavery was unearthed, a scholar tracking descendants of enslaved workers was suddenly fired, The Guardian says.

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