626: Alarm Belle Edition

On this week’s episode: Beating kids in Oklahoma is all about inclusion ... Devout Catholics back that ash up to kick off Lent ... And Cecil helps us get to know someone who never gets to know. --- To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/ If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: [email protected] To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/ To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/ Report instances of harassment or abuse connected to this show to the Creator Accountability Network here: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/ To hear more from our intrepid audio engineer Morgan Clarke, click here: https://www.morganclarkemusic.com/ Help support the show by checking out our sponsor: https://betterhelp.com/scathing --- Guest Links: Cecil and Marsh's fantastic new show: https://www.knowrogan.com/ --- Headlines: First openly gay Imam murdered in Africa:  https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c05l33j7rq7o Speaker Mike Johnson is living in a DC house that's the center of a pastor’s secretive influence campaign: https://www.propublica.org/article/mike-johnson-evangelical-pastor-steve-berger-roommates JD Vance invokes medieval Catholic concept called "ordo amoris" to justify xenophobia: https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-catholic-theology-migration-e868af574fb2e742c6ed3d756c569769 https://apnews.com/article/pope-trump-migration-09a89091f8e7dc3270099f0947d04e90 https://apnews.com/article/vice-president-jd-vance-pope-francis-immigration-4f05693320524f9976d3b9ebe31b3f97 Upcoming book by shitty atheists weaponize the war on science against trans people: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/prominent-atheists-are-weaponizing Christian lawmaker still wants teachers to be able to hit students with disabilities: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/christian-lawmaker-still-wants-teachers Churches offering drive thru ashes for Ash Wednesday: https://www.christianpost.com/news/churches-offering-drive-thru-ashes-for-ash-wednesday.html

In this week’s episode, we’ll get good news about pews from Pew, British Bishops make an illegal move, and we’ll learn who’s succeeding Cardinal Pell as Australia’s worst living person. --- To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/ If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: [email protected] To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/ To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/ Report instances of harassment or abuse connected to this show to the Creator Accountability Network here: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/ --- Guest Links: Check out more from Marsh on Skeptics with a K and the Know Rogan Experience. Learn more about American Atheists’ annual convention here: https://convention.atheists.org/ Check out more from Gate Theory here: https://gatetheory.com/ --- Headlines: Survey mentioned in the diatribe: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/decline-of-christianity-in-the-us-has-slowed-may-have-leveled-off/ Pew survey shows low levels of Christian nationalism in America: https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/01/28/comparing-levels-of-religious-nationalism-around-the-world/ Despite republican efforts, the gayness persists  https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/despite-republican-attacks-americans Bishop of Liverpool resigns after assault claims https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq6gze93mpno  Bishop comes forward as Bishop of Liverpool accuser https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czj30ddrjm7o Nominee to be the next Bishop of Durham withdraws from appointment https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2025/21-february/news/uk/nominee-for-see-of-durham-withdraws-from-appointment  Church of England bishop calls for disestablishment https://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/02/church-of-england-bishop-calls-for-disestablishment  Dusty Deevers insane laws fail https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/oklahoma-lawmakers-shoot-down-slew Ryan Walters now wants “Bible based character lessons” for Oklahoma public school students: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/oklahoma-wants-to-buy-bible-based Nigel Farage: Britons must have more children to save Judeo-Christian culture https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/nigel-farage-britons-must-have-more-children-to-save-judeo-christian-culture-nkq60pjwl   /  https://archive.is/atD2B  --- This Week in Misogyny: Anti-abortion Trump supporters freaking out over IVF order: https://religionnews.com/2025/02/21/trumps-ivf-executive-order-worries-abortion-foes/ SCOTUS declines to hear challenge to abortion clinic “bubble laws”: https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/24/politics/abortion-clinics-protest-zones-supreme-court/index.html Christian efforts to disenfranchise women: https://newrepublic.com/article/191420/christian-nationalism-save-act-voter-suppression

In this week’s extended-edition episode, we’ll search Amazon for theocracy stopping backpacks, JD Vance goes to Germany and says what he will about the tenets of national socialism, and we’ll watch a Christian grift video that Oral Roberts would say is a little much. --- To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/ If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: [email protected] To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/ To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/ Report instances of harassment or abuse connected to this show to the Creator Accountability Network here: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/ --- Headlines: Trio of terrifying stories about religion in schools: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/alabama-schools-could-lose-funding and https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/oklahoma-lawmaker-i-dont-want-pink and https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/north-dakota-republicans-push-bill Christian post loses their minds over “Trans Sanctuary City” Meeting: https://www.christianpost.com/news/lesbian-pastor-blasphemes-jesus-as-drag-queen-at-council-meeting.html Ted Cruz's list of "woke" science includes self-driving cars and solar eclipses: https://www.npr.org/2025/02/13/nx-s1-5295043/sen-ted-cruzs-list-of-woke-science-includes-self-driving-cars-solar-eclipses National Science Foundation has to deal with giant list of absurd "banned words": https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025/02/04/national-science-foundation-trump-executive-orders-words/ Australia refuses to fix the religion question on their census: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/australia-will-keep-screwing-up-the Ken Ham give us his tips for Valentine's Day: https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2025/02/14/ken-hams-dating-tips-valentines-day/ JD Vance rebukes anti-free speech, anti-Christian discrimination in Munich speech: https://www.christianpost.com/news/jd-vance-rebukes-anti-free-speech-anti-christian-discrimination.html Trump Officials Attack a German Consensus on Nazis and Speech: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/world/europe/vance-musk-nazis-afd-munich.html The video from this week’s Mini:  https://youtu.be/zfWJifqSM6E?si=iwe42fbDktc5ZTbf

In this week’s episode, Donald Trump checks under Christianity's bed for monsters, the decor at Mar-a-Lago is getting pretty goatse, and Jesus will get downright parabular. Which is apparently a real word. --- To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/ If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: [email protected] To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/ To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/ --- Headlines: Trump signs order to fight “anti-Christian bigotry”: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/trumps-task-force-to-eradicate-anti and https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/eradicating-anti-christian-bias/ Christian Group Rages Over “Soft Porn” Carl’s Jr. Ad: https://www.joemygod.com/2025/02/christian-group-rages-over-soft-porn-carls-jr-ad/ Dr. Phil joins immigration raid in Chicago - ICE gets sued on religious grounds: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/27/trump-immigration-dr-phil-chicago-raids https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/quaker-groups-file-suit-end-policy-restricting-ice-arrests-houses-wors-rcna189471 Trump re-establishes WH faith-based initiative bullshit, puts Paula White in charge: https://religionnews.com/2025/02/10/with-new-faith-office/ Gamer priest defrocked and the staff of his God is a Geek website quits after he imitates Elon Musk's salute: https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/calvin-robinson-defrocked-god-is-a-geek-staff-resigns/ Trump has literal golden goat idol at Mar-a-Lago covered in $100 Trump bills: https://meidasnews.com/news/internet-reacts-to-golden-hoofed-trump-cash-covered-goat-idol-at-mar-a-lago

In this week’s episode, Washington and Montana break god’s super best friend promise, a new bill in Mississippi aims to teach people that erections have consequences, and the answer to “who dat?” turns out to be way worse than we thought. --- To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/ If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: [email protected] To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/ To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/ --- Headlines: WA and Montana Lawmaker want to make priests mandatory reporters: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/wa-lawmaker-defends-bill-making-priests and https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/montana-democrats-want-to-require Wyoming anti-abortion bill would make chemo illegal cause they’re idiots: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/02/wyoming-republicans-anti-abortion-bill Christian investment group takes credit for pressuring Meta into ending fact-checking: https://www.christianpost.com/voices/meta-facebook-christian-investing-fact-checking-censorship.html NO Saints helped Catholics cover up child rape: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/business/new-orleans-saints-catholic-church-abuse.html Mississippi lawmaker introduces 'Contraception Begins at Erection Act': https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/mississippi-lawmaker-introduces-contraception-begins-erection-act-rcna188938 https://www.newsweek.com/democrat-proposing-masturbation-fines-receives-death-threats-2023404

In this week’s episode, the church begs for mercy too liberally, God maintains the streak of perfect inattendance, and we’ll see what the other side of the aisle has to offer us. --- To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/ If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: [email protected] To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/ To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/ --- Headlines: Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde rebukes Trump at "Service of Prayer for the Nation" in DC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ESheItSWy4 Christians get their responses wrong from every angle: https://www.christianpost.com/news/5-christians-react-to-bishops-sermon-rebuking-trump.html Jewish groups complain about lack of accreditation for religious schools: https://www.jns.org/four-brooklyn-yeshivahs-file-federal-complaint-against-ny-education-department/ The Christian Post is very suspicious of Grok AI having a logo that looks like a broken cross: https://www.christianpost.com/news/we-asked-grok-whether-its-new-logo-is-a-broken-cross.html SCOTUS to hear case of taxpayer-funded religious school in Oklahoma: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/the-supreme-court-will-decide-if

In this week’s episode, Donald trump ORDERS trans people to stop existing, a Tennessee local ordinance demands the CORRECT version of dumb plastic crap on your lawn, and American Atheists’ legal director Geoffrey Blackwell will be here to tell us exactly how fucked we are. --- To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/ If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: [email protected] To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/ To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/ --- Guest Links: Find out more about American Atheists. See if there’s a nearby affiliated group with this handy map. Hear more of Geoff on his podcast, The Not So Grand Jury. Listen to Noah on Where There’s Woke. --- Headlines: Trump declares trans people nonexistent: https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/a-line-by-line-analysis-of-trumps Proposed North Dakota law would force students to say the Pledge of Allegiance: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/proposed-north-dakota-law-would-force TN woman taken to court for Christmas decorations being too Halloweeny: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/10/style/halloween-decorations-tennessee.html

In this week’s episode, the Christian god does a bunch of fire smiting, Atheist groups finally get rid of that expired ketchup in the back of fridge, and the Bible will still be yammering on about that Jesus guy. --- To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/ If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: [email protected] To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/ To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/ --- Guest Links: Check out Dan’s fundraiser here: extra-life.org/participant/dane --- Headlines: Prophetic warning about the LA fires: https://charismanews.com/news/amanda-grace-prophetic-warning-on-the-l-a-fires/ Blame LA fire horror on the woke religion bringing ruin to our cities: https://nypost.com/2025/01/09/opinion/blame-la-fire-horror-on-the-woke-religions-ruin-of-our-cities/ MTG calls for using weather control to put out the fires: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/marjorie-taylor-greene-launches-unhinged-call-for-officials-to-manipulate-the-weather-to-stop-la-wildfires/ar-BB1rmsjm Scientology’s ‘Volunteer Ministers’ getting roasted online for LA fire photo ops: https://tonyortega.substack.com/p/scientologys-volunteer-ministers Atheists sue WV water agency for giving $5 million to a Catholic School: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/atheists-sue-west-virginia-water Biden awards Medal of Freedom to Pope Francis: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/11/us/politics/biden-medal-of-freedom-pope-francis.html Mike Johnson misattributed a prayer to Jefferson - the blowback could be heard at Monticello: https://religionnews.com/2025/01/08/blowback-continues-to-grow-over-johnson-misattributing-a-prayer-to-jefferson/ Bunch of atheist groups reaffirm commitment to LGBTQ rights: https://www.atheists.org/2025/01/american-atheists-reaffirms-commitment-to-protecting-lgbtq-rights/ --- This Week in Misogyny: House Speaker cites Genesis to justify law against trans women in sports: https://religionnews.com/2025/01/14/speaker-johnson-cites-genesis-after-house-passes-bill-banning-trans-people-from-womens-sports/ Virginia church publicly shames member for being pregnant out of wedlock: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/virginia-church-publicly-shames-unwed

In this week’s episode, the State of the Union is BAAAAAAAD, Pope Francis may have accidentally opened a Morning Stargate, and we’ll learn that “flat” is only one of the incorrect earth shapes available to believe in. --- To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/ If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: [email protected] To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/ To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/ --- Headlines: American Atheists releases its “State of the secular states” report: https://states.atheists.org/ Oklahoma lawmaker's "covenant marriage" bill would make it harder to get divorced: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/oklahoma-lawmakers-covenant-marriage Pope criticizes death with dignity and calls out nuns with 'vinegar faces': https://www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/article/pope-criticises-abortion-and-assisted-dying-in-new-year-message-zpzzqt593 https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/pope-calls-out-nuns-with-vinegar-faces-hdgpd6xkb The Telepathy Tapes Prove We All Want to Believe: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-pseudoscience/telepathy-tapes-prove-we-all-want-believe Buddhist group sues Army Corp of Engineers because conservation is fucking up their meditation: https://religionnews.com/2025/01/03/buddhist-group-says-army-corps-everglades-project-violates-religious-freedom/ Pope Francis may or may not have opened spiritual portals to other dimensions: https://www.thejournal.ie/catholic-church-jubilee-year-pope-francis-vatican-holy-doors-6584288-Jan2025/ https://charismanews.com/news/vatican-to-open-5-sacred-portals-this-christmas-eve/

In this week’s episode, Congress has as many atheists as it does chances not to end our civilization, we learn if it's gay for men to have hetero sex with their wives, and Michael Marshall will be here to woo you. --- To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/ If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: [email protected] To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/ To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/ --- Guest Links: Check out more from Marsh on Be Reasonable and Skeptics with a K --- Headlines: New Congress sees tiny uptick in nonreligious members: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/one-new-member-of-congress-is-openly At Trump’s inauguration, reports of a pay-to-pray: https://religionnews.com/2024/12/23/amid-uncertainty-around-religion-at-trumps-inauguration-reports-of-a-pay-to-pray/ Vatican advances beatification process for Belgian king who abdicated rather than approve abortion: https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-belgium-abortion-369b35f6734bdab87786ff6c4870d424 Prominent atheist transphobes leave honorary position with FFRF: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/three-prominent-atheists-resigned Kenneth Copeland says God told him he’ll live to be 120: https://www.christianpost.com/news/televangelist-kenneth-copeland-predicts-when-he-will-die.html MAGA influencer husband says giving his wife orgasms would be 'gay sex': https://www.advocate.com/donald-trump/trump-maga-gay-sex-orgasm#rebelltitem1