We Dissent

Latest Episodes:

No Victory for Religious Liberty: Discussing Coach Prayer with Rachel Laser Sep 01, 2022

Show notes

Liz, Rebecca, Monica and Alison recap the case, Kennedy v. Bremerton, discussed in Episode 5 and review the decision handed down by the Supreme Court at the end of June. Later in the episode they're joined by the pod's very first guest, Rachel Laser, President and CEO of Americans United, who represented Bremerton at the high court. Rachel joins for a conversation about being a woman leader in the fight to keep state/church separate, and what our future holds after a dismal June. It's a long episode, but worth every minute!

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Bonus Episode! Shurtleff v. City of Boston Aug 02, 2022

Show notes

Rebecca and Liz recap the case, which was discussed in Episode 2, and review the decision handed down by the Supreme Court earlier this year. They also discuss the importance of this decision in the context of all other religious liberty cases from the high court's term this past year.

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SCOTUS Decision

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Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

Bonus Episode! Carson v. Makin Update Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

Liz and Rebecca recap the case, which was discussed in Episode 1, and review the decision handed down by the Supreme Court at the end of June. They also discuss the impact this has for the separation of state and church moving forward.

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SCOTUS Decision

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Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

The Abortion Episode Jul 20, 2022

Show notes

Liz, Rebecca, Alison and Monica discuss the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturns the fundamental right to abortion care. The co-hosts break down the decision, the ramifications of the decision, and commiserate over the future of the rights of women to make their own health care choices.

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Relevant Cases

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Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

You, Coach Kennedy, are no Tim Tebow Jun 22, 2022

Show notes

Liz, Rebecca, Alison and Monica break down the latest case threatening the separation of church and state, Kennedy v. Bremerton, which involves a Christian high school football coach praying at the 50-yard line after games. The hosts review the facts of the case, outline what happened at oral arguments and make predictions on what this means for the rights of public high school students of minority faiths or no faith at all.

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Relevant Cases

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Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

Religious Liberty and the Death Penalty Jun 08, 2022

Show notes

Rebecca, Monica, Alison, and Liz discuss the religious liberty issues arising in death penalty cases. Since 2019, questions about what religious liberty rights are afforded to those sentenced to death at the moment of their execution have been featured at the high court. Rebecca walks us through four notable cases on this issue and the hosts discuss what it means for religious liberty cases overall.

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Relevant Cases

"Divided court allows Alabama execution to go forward"

Murphy v. Collier

"Supreme Court intervenes in execution of Buddhist prisoner"

Gutierrez v. Collier

"Justices block Texas execution"

Dunn v. Smith

"Court won't allow Alabama execution without a pastor"

Ramirez v. Collier

Coalition amicus brief

Secular State Advocacy in the Age of Christian Nationalism Jun 01, 2022

Show notes

Alison, Rebecca and Monica discuss another tool in our kit to keep religion and government separate: legislative advocacy. Alison, as our resident policy expert, guides us through the many bills that threaten church/state separation wending their ways through state legislatures this year.

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Relevant Cases

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Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

The So-Called Establishment Clause: Shurtleff v. City of Boston May 25, 2022

Show notes

Monica, Liz, Rebecca, and Alison review the case, Shurtleff v. City of Boston, in which the city of Boston denied a religious organization, Camp Constitution, its request to fly the Christian flag at city hall. The hosts discuss the free speech and religion clause arguments presented at oral arguments in December 2021.

*Note, this episode was recorded prior to the Supreme Court handing down the decision on May 2, 2022. An update to this episode is forthcoming.

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Relevant Cases

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Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

The Sleeper Case: Carson v. Makin May 18, 2022

Show notes

Liz, Rebecca, Alison and Monica discuss the "sleeper case" of the Supreme Court term which could upend prohibitions on government funding to religious schools. The lawyers break down the arguments from the case out of Maine, Carson v. Makin, and discuss ramifications and potential outcomes.

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Relevant Cases