@brchastain.social
Author, Exvangelical & Beyond: How American Christianity Went Radical and the Movement That's Fighting Back. Host: Exvangelical. Words: RNS, Religion Dispatches. Yes I have a newsletter. www.blakechastain.com
For several days in a row, the White House has posted videos on X of the U.S.’s strikes on Iran spliced with footage taken from video games and action movies, in a dystopic form of propaganda that treats the war like a game or like social media content to be mined.
The lead track on that album will make you a vibraphone believer. And also anyone who makes such a silly goose/egomaniacal album cover has my attention
NY area folks: come see me and three other authors, Josiah Hesse, Mattie Jo Cowsert, and B.K. O'Connor, in Brooklyn this Sunday: www.urbanebrooklyn.com/event-detail... #exvangelical
Check out the first episode of “A Trick of State,” a new occasional series from Dangerous Dogma investigating underexplored issues at the intersection of church and state that expose the false promises of Christian Nationalism.
When I beat WordleBot I consider that a win for all humanity against AI.
anyway, the horrors
world-altering decisions are being made by a cabal of gambling addicts hell bent on self enrichment no matter the cost to humanity, we should look into that.
My gallows humor contribution: if I were a headline editor/Onion writer yesterday, I’d have been tempted to use the title ‘79-Year-Old Man Kills 86-Year-Old Man In Most Destructive Way Possible’
1/9. In 2020 Iran did try to interfere with the presidential election.
You can just say things.
NEW: We obtained 911 audio from the Texas detention center housing hundreds of immigrant kids and their parents.
Since mid-September, EMS crews have been dispatched to Dilley at least 11 times to treat children in medical distress.
Burning fevers. Low oxygen. Seizures. A broken leg.
My report:
NEW Reign of Error. You don't want to miss this one. I talk with @matthewdtaylor.bsky.social about how Trump's top evangelical advisors are activating voters for the midterms around voter suppression, Iran, immigration, and literally casting out demons
redcircle.com/shows/fbed71...
This really feels like an Orban/Erdogan situation in which the aspiring dictator is making sure his friendly oligarchs control as much media as possible
www.cnbc.com/2026/02/26/w...
“Jack Dorsey Thinks It’s A Good Idea” is basically the kiss of death. You had a good run, AI bubble www.theverge.com/tech/885710/...
i thought the whole point of Kalshi and Polymarket was to *enable* things like insider trading? www.wired.com/story/kalshi...
Sing it with me:
5G & honor
Glory, cell towers
Be unto the Ancient of Days
Cov'ring the nation,
All of Creation,
5G is a form of praise
Every tongue in heaven & earth
Crystal clear reception
Apps that need all 5 bars to work
Shall have them
You will be exalted oh God
& T-Mobile shall not pass..
Sing it with me:
5G & honor
Glory, cell towers
Be unto the Ancient of Days
Cov'ring the nation,
All of Creation,
5G is a form of praise
Every tongue in heaven & earth
Crystal clear reception
Apps that need all 5 bars to work
Shall have them
You will be exalted oh God
& T-Mobile shall not pass..
I wonder if it will have Covenant Eyes built-in
I'm sure that when Jesus was cleansing the temple of merchants he was secretly hoping that in 2000 years his followers would launch a "Christian wireless service" in partnership with T-Mobile
Just saying: if, to create the appearance of engagement of X, a genuine celebrity needs both (a) the algorithmic boost for pro-MAGA content plus (b) a huge bot farm, then what chance do non-celebrity non-MAGA posters have?
X has less genuine "reach" than holding up a poster on a sidewalk.
An NPR investigation finds the public database of Epstein files is missing dozens of pages related to sexual abuse accusations against President Trump. n.pr/4qTItsU
As a talking head in a streaming documentary series in 2024, I wasn’t allowed (by the streamer; director similarly constrained) to mention Trump. Back in 2019, Netflix PR told me to avoid politics & religion in interviews about THE FAMILY, which is about politics & religion.
The life of this 59yo Cambodian refugee whose circumstances of death have *not been disclosed* matters.
This seems like an important part of the story that isn’t getting much coverage rn.
I’m sure there were some kind of behind the scenes negotiations but my take is not exactly that that King is strong/good but rather that the King is weak and British institutions are starting to respond accordingly.
It’s just not particularly interesting
It’s physics
You have been lied to: a watched pot totally boils
