The Wild Hunt (https://wildhunt.org/category/politics)
A new PRRI survey finds that roughly one-third of Americans support or sympathize with Christian nationalism. The report links those views to political affiliation, media consumption, authoritarian attitudes, and immigration beliefs, while raising broader questions about religious pluralism and minority-faith inclusion in the United States.
Alabama’s new released-time law expands off-campus religious instruction during school hours as more states adopt similar policies. Critics warn that, while legally neutral, these programs may deepen inequities, favoring majority faiths and sidelining others.
At its final hearing, the Religious Liberty Commission revealed deep divisions over the meaning of religious freedom, with supporters warning of cultural threats and critics arguing the body advances a narrow vision favoring conservative Christian perspectives.
A rarely used federal panel voted to exempt Gulf oil drilling from endangered species protections, drawing legal challenges and environmental concern. The decision coincides with new USDA efforts to streamline environmental review, signaling a broader shift in how protections are applied.
A federal judge dismissed a high-profile challenge to the Johnson Amendment, rejecting a proposed settlement that could have allowed political endorsements in churches. The ruling preserves current law while leaving unresolved questions about enforcement and religious political speech.
The Supreme Court sided with a Christian counselor challenging Colorado’s conversion therapy ban, ruling it raises First Amendment concerns and must be reconsidered, highlighting tensions between free speech protections and regulation of licensed mental health practices.