I'm pleased that my essay on Islam is included in the Greater Philadelphia and the World volume!

This weekend, Philadelphia is welcoming visitors to celebrate the 250th birthday of the Marine Corps. The @dialogueinst.bsky.social is offering FREE TOURS for veterans & military members on the role of religion in the American Revolution. To sign up, visit: dialogueinstitute.org/religion-and...

The Civil-Military Crisis Is Here The leaders of the U.S. military may soon face a terrible decision.

Only the military remains outside Trump’s grip. Despite the firing of several top officers—and his threat to fire more—the U.S. armed forces are still led by generals and admirals whose oath is to the Constitution, not the president. But for how long?
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

Today at ARC Magazine: My piece on how Doug Wilson uses American history Here is a taste of my piece, “The Christian Nationalist Rewriting American History.” Idaho pastor Douglas Wilson is having a moment. The 72-year-old Christian nationalist was recently t…

"Scholarship on the role of religion in the American Revolution is so robust that no historian with a Ph.D. from one of the universities Wilson despises could get away with claiming that all the Founding Fathers were deists...." thewayofimprovement.blog/2025/10/06/t...

The Government Wants to See Your Papers And the Supreme Court decides that the Fourth Amendment might not be for everyone.

Am I angry about the SCOTUS decision today that basically lets ICE ask for your papers like goons in a police state? You bet I am:
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

Removing or editing Philly slavery exhibits is ‘un-American,’ 45 local historical groups tell Trump’s Interior secretary It's the first time a major coalition of Philadelphia's preservationist groups have coordinated a widespread opposition to President Trump and Secretary Doug Burgum's threats to Independence Park.

Forty-five local preservation and historical organizations have convened to send a message to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum: Removing or editing Philly slavery exhibits is “ahistorical and un-American.” (1/3)

Honoring Ashli Babbitt Dishonors the Military If there’s no difference between upholding the Constitution and attacking it, then there’s no honor in service.

“…I am infuriated that the Air Force plans to grant military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt. She did not die defending the Constitution. She died trying to overturn it.”

My latest in @thebulwark.com

www.thebulwark.com/p/honoring-a...

The hard-won hope of the long defeat A mindset for a dark time By Ian Bassin

There is no question we are being tested but moments of seeming hopelessness can be the prelude to a breakthrough.
@ianbassin.bsky.social offers a framework for how to situate ourselves and endure in defense of our democracy. www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/the-hard-w...

All The Demands Trump Is Making Of The Smithsonian Blindfolds handed out at the entrance to the National Museum of African American History

All The Demands Trump Is Making Of The Smithsonian theonion.com/all-the...

Border Patrol Agents Show Up in Force at Newsom Rally

ICE, America's first interior police, are not being built up, at the cost of billions, just to monitor immigration

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/14/u...

These are all the Independence Park exhibits that could be removed by the Trump administration next month Under an executive order by President Donald Trump, the displays could be removed in the next month.

“Trump can change whatever sign he likes,” said Bruggeman, “but that won't erase the memory of Philadelphians coming together to insist on an honest reckoning with our past.”
www.inquirer.com/politics/nat...

THIS IS NOT CONSTITUTIONAL.

They cannot commandeer state and local law enforcement because they want to.

THIS IS NOT LAWFUL.

They cannot use federalized guard or military personnel for civilian law enforcement absent rebellion and insurrection.

Philly activists rally to protect exhibits depicting slavery Organizers said they are concerned that the White House is trying to whitewash history ahead of semiquincentennial celebrations next year.

“Everyone is a complicated person, even the founding fathers of our country. And so we want to make sure that the real truth is told and that we don’t do a disservice to the ancestors, the enslaved who lived here." --Rev. Mark Tyler

whyy.org/articles/phi...

Love this! Thank you for sharing.

Surge in U.S. Concern About Immigration Has Abated The percentage of Americans wanting less immigration has dropped by nearly half this year to 30%, with 79% now saying immigration benefits the U.S.

“Americans have grown markedly more positive toward immigration over the past year, with the share wanting immigration reduced dropping from 55% in 2024 to 30% today. At the same time, a record-high 79% of U.S. adults say immigration is a good thing for the country.”

news.gallup.com/poll/692522/...

Laughing in front of cages designed to hold migrants and refugees, many of whom came to this country fleeing extreme violence and poverty, and hoping to raise their children in a more compassionate country. And many of whom followed all the legal procedures to enter the country.

So, 65% of the annual NEH budget.

Dialogue Institute Program and Administrative Director Andi Laudisio orchestrated a student training at Harriton High School this May, focusing on fostering conflict resolution skills. The workshop guided high school students through the essential components of meaningful #dialogue.

Today, at the World Affairs Council, I spoke with a group of human rights activists, educators, & law enforcement officials from Indonesia. We discussed dialogue & teaching strategies for building sustained relationships across religious differences & reducing violence. @dialogueinst.bsky.social

Nicely done!

Two weeks ago, the Dialogue Institute and the University of Pennsylvania collaborated on an in-person training focused on adaptive leadership in rapidly changing environments and how bias impedes leadership.

Read more here: penntoday.upenn.edu/title-VI-off...

#community #education #dialogue

Philadelphia, The Revolutionary City Opens April 11 | American Philosophical Society Opening April 11, 2025, Philadelphia, The Revolutionary City, the new exhibition at the American Philosophical Society (APS), explores the experience of Philadelphians before, during, and just after t...

Philadelphia, The Revolutionary City, opens tomorrow! Read more about the exhibition exploring the remarkable lives of Philadelphians who experienced the American Revolution: www.amphilsoc.org/news/philade...

Last week, we met with 60 K-12 teachers from Lower Merion to discuss combatting antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias in classrooms. Led by David Krueger, Jason Holtzman, and Majid Alsayegh, our discussion highlighted the power of #dialogue to foster #understanding across differences.

#K12education

If American religion were 100 people

63 Christians:
23 Evangelicals
19 Catholics
11 Mainline
5 Black Protestants
3 Other Christians
2 LDS

7 Other World Religions:
2 Jews
2 Other
1 Buddhist
1 Hindu
1 Muslim

30 Unaffiliated:
19 Nothing in particular
6 Agnostics
5 Atheists

🚨 BIG ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨

I started something new: Scholar.DIY — a public benefit company to help scholars turn research into meaningful digital storytelling. 1/6

The 2025 Boardman Symposium THE SCOPES TRIAL AT 100: SECULARISM, RACE, AND EDUCATION is happening this week!

This 1.5-day workshop will begin at 4pm on Thursday, March 20 and continue through Friday with a series of roundtable conversations.

Registration:

www.library.upenn.edu/america-250-...

📢 Today is the LAST day to apply to our City of Brotherly Love K-12 Institute!

Join us this summer in Philadelphia to explore the role of religious diversity in American history: www.cityofbrotherlyloveinstitute.org/apply

@nehgov.bsky.social @pahumanities.bsky.social

#humanities #K12

DEADLINE TODAY! Applications for the #NEHgov 2025 summer Landmarks and Institutes are DUE TODAY.

Explore the offerings and learn more at ow.ly/BHcH50Utj86.

@pahumanities.bsky.social