Robert P. Jones

The Court Case That Could Blow the Roof Off Political Spending Christian nationalists are teaming up with Donald Trump's administration to argue that churches should be able to spend on political campaigns.

“Christian nationalists are teaming with Trump in a bid to torch a rule preventing churches from donating to campaigns” By Andrew Seidel, 11/24/25
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

Viola Fletcher, Oldest Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Dies at 111

Ms. Fletcher, Tulsa, and America always deserved so much more

In 1945, the US Army put out a training manual intended to help rank and file soldiers spot incipient fascism in the US. One of the telltale signs that one was dealing with a fascist was that they called everyone to their left "a communist." bsky.app/profile/seth...

Trump’s Drumbeat of Violence and Christian Nationalism Plus, the latest writing from the Convocation Unscripted team.

Just dropped @convocation.bsky.social —Trump’s Drumbeat of Violence and Christian Nationalism.
Our latest episode w/
@jemartisby.bsky.social
@kkdumez.bsky.social
@robertpjones.bsky.social
@dianabutlerbass.bsky.social
convocation.substack.com/p/trumps-dru...

So two lessons here: 1) Good reporting and public pressure still matter; 2) The original policy change reveals intent and the white supremacist worldview eroding the guardrails. Were it not for public outcry, this would have sailed through..
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”

So much for the Trump administration's alleged concern abt antisemitism. New Coast Guard (under DHS) policy now says swastikas and nooses are no longer considered hate symbols but just "potentially divisive." Coast Guard/DHS Officials refuse to respond.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

"Chatbot Jesus is not the Christ who so loved the world that he became flesh and dwelled among us. He is a machine-induced hallucination. Like the demon-possessed man in the gospels, Chatbot Jesus is not one but legion..."

Conversations with Chatbot Jesus--What Could Go Wrong? Plus the latest episode of The Convocation Unscripted

My latest: Conversations with Chatbot Jesuses (yes plural) on Trump's immigration rhetoric and actions.

www.whitetoolong.net/p/chatting-w...

This was basically one of the main plot lines in THX-1138.

“Like the demon-possessed man in the gospels, Chatbot Jesus is not one but legion…” A conversation between Robert Jones and Chatbot Jesus. This is fascinating (& just as alarming as you’d expect).

Conversations with Chatbot Jesus--What Could Go Wrong? Plus the latest episode of The Convocation Unscripted

@robertpjones.bsky.social: "Like the demon-possessed man in the gospels, Chatbot Jesus is not one but legion; he is possessed by multiple personalities produced by the sins and limitations of the people, who in turn produced the texts, from which he was incarnated."
open.substack.com/pub/robertpj...

Conversations with Chatbot Jesus--What Could Go Wrong? Plus the latest episode of The Convocation Unscripted

Following a wave of coverage on AI and religion this week, I decided to have a chat with AI white Jesus about Trump, immigration, and his own self-presentation.

open.substack.com/pub/robertpj...

My hand holding a book called Jim Crow in the Asylum: Psychiatry and civil Rights in the American South

The wonderful people at @uncpress.bsky.social sent me an advance copy of my book and I think I’ll have a little cry now. You can order it from here and it will arrive soon (use code 01UNCP30) for a discount uncpress.org/978146968920...

Shutdown and Release: Dems Cave, Consequences of Epstein Files Plus the latest writing from The Convocation Unscripted team.

Shutdown and Release.
Just dropped—the latest episode from @convocation.bsky.social .

convocation.substack.com/p/shutdown-a...

My Interview with Joy Reid: Unpacking the Threat of Christian Nationalism Plus, the latest episode of The Convocation Unscripted

So grateful to @joyannreid.bsky.social for this in-depth interview where we trace the deep roots of the MAGA-Christian nationalist movement and talk about why so many white Christians have turned against democracy.
www.whitetoolong.net/p/my-intervi...

#SCOTUS Reminder: Americans support marriage equality by 2:1 margin today (65% favor, 31% oppose). Support illustrates asymmetric polarization:
Dem: 83%
Ind: 70%
Rep: 47%
Only 2 religious groups (wh evangelical, Latino Protestant) show majority opposition.
via @prri.org 2025 American Values Survey

Supreme Court rejects call to overturn its decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide The Supreme Court has rejected a call to overturn its landmark decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

BREAKING: The Supreme Court rejects a call to overturn its decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.

In Virginia's election last week, 7% of prior Trump voters voted Democrat. This means that 7% of people who voted for Trump just a year ago switched & voted for a Democratic governor.

Thanks to @robertpjones.bsky.social for this hopeful bit of data.

Trump’s Unprecedented Actions Deepen Asymmetric Divides The 16th annual PRRI American Values Survey examines Americans’ opinions on how democracy is working, what it means to be “truly American,” concerns about the economy, and belief in the American Dream...

Note to Democratic Party:
90% of democrats AND 67% of independents say the cuts in federal funding of healthcare programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act have gone too far.
Majorities of both also say health care is critical issue to them.
@prri.org
prri.org/research/tru...

My Interview with Joy Reid: Unpacking the Threat of Christian Nationalism Plus, the latest episode of The Convocation Unscripted

So grateful to @joyannreid.bsky.social for this in-depth interview where we trace the deep roots of the MAGA-Christian nationalist movement and talk about why so many white Christians have turned against democracy.
www.whitetoolong.net/p/my-intervi...

My Interview with Joy Reid: Unpacking the Threat of Christian Nationalism Plus, the latest episode of The Convocation Unscripted

Excited to share my new in-depth interview with @joyannreid.bsky.social . I talk about my experience growing up as a Southern Baptist and about the through line between the old Christian Right, the Tea Party, and the MAGA Christian nationalist movement today.
www.whitetoolong.net/p/my-intervi...

ICYMI--the 2025 election results confirm that an authoritarian future is not inevitable, and how important the midterm elections are one year from now.

Informative and horrifying conversation about past and present threats.

In the name of protecting Jews, Jews have their funding cancelled, get kicked out of seminars, and are removed from leadership positions in Jewish Studies to be replaced by non-Jews.

My Interview with Joy Reid: Unpacking the Threat of Christian Nationalism Plus, the latest episode of The Convocation Unscripted

Excited to share my new in-depth interview with @joyannreid.bsky.social . I talk about my experience growing up as a Southern Baptist and about the through line between the old Christian Right, the Tea Party, and the MAGA Christian nationalist movement today.
www.whitetoolong.net/p/my-intervi...

The Most Important 2025 Election Result: Evidence that an Authoritarian Future is Not Inevitable Plus the latest writing from the Convocation team

We're up--thanks for flagging!
convocation.substack.com/p/the-most-i...

The Most Important 2025 Election Result: Evidence that an Authoritarian Future is Not Inevitable Plus the latest writing from the Convocation team

Latest podcast episode just posted! Our take on the meaning of the 2025 election results: the surprising, the practical, and the big picture.
@jemartisby.bsky.social
@dianabutlerbass.bsky.social
@robertpjones.bsky.social
@kkdumez.bsky.social
convocation.substack.com/p/the-most-i...

Listening to @robertpjones.bsky.social talk about the tension between Juneteenth and the 4th of July and the way they can - and must - be celebrated in tandem on this week's Convocation Unscripted Live. Sort of like a secular High Holy Days. I love this idea.

A Beautiful Year? Diana Butler Bass's new book is the ideal companion for these challenging next 12 months.

How can we hold onto beauty amid so much destruction? This new book by @Diana Butler Bass is the ideal companion to help us hold onto faith, perseverance, and wisdom in these critical 12 months between now and the 2026 midterm elections.
open.substack.com/pub/robertpj...

Happening today at 11:30 AM Eastern -- hear from @robertpjones.bsky.social, @katherinestewart.bsky.social, & @esglaude.bsky.social:

aarweb.org/event/the-ro...