Just Liberty

60: From classrooms to courtrooms. Interview with Charles J. Russo.

Across the country, new laws are inviting religion back into America’s classrooms—reviving old debates about prayer, scripture, and the separation of church and state. The Supreme Court’s recent shift in interpreting the First Amendment has opened the door to sweeping change, reshaping how faith and freedom coexist in public education. What’s at stake for schools, students, and the future of religious liberty in a pluralistic democracy?
Show Notes
Article | "3 states push to put the Ten Commandments back in school" by Charles J. Russo and Lydia Artz, The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/3-states-push-to-put-the-ten-commandments-back-in-school-banking-on-new-guidance-at-the-supreme-court-264423
Article |  "Old Fights, New Fire in America's Classrooms" by Charles J. Russo and Lydia Artz, Liberty magazine.https://www.libertymagazine.org//author/entry/charles-j-russo
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Guest:
Charles Russo, Professor of Law, Dayton University 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-russo-89849b7/
 

59: America's founding feud--and why it still matters. Interview with Jeffrey Rosen.

Long before America split into red and blue, it was divided by the visions of Hamilton and Jefferson. Their battle over power, liberty, and virtue helped define the nation’s character—and still shapes its conflicts today. This episode explores what their enduring feud reveals about democracy, leadership, and the fragile art of self-government.
Show Notes
Book | The Pursuit of Liberty by Jeffrey Rosen. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Pursuit-of-Liberty/Jeffrey-Rosen/9781668053744 
Website |  National Constitution Center https://constitutioncenter.org 
Podcast | We the People https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-the-people/id83213431 
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Guest: 
Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-rosen-1158829b/
YouTube, Insta, FB, X for National Constitution Center: @ConstitutionCtr 
 

58: A Toxic Embrace? State Favoritism of Religion. Interview with Dan Koev.

Does government support for religion strengthen it—or weaken it? New global research reveals counterintuitive consequences for both the favored faith and minority religions. What can these findings teach Americans as they navigate debates over how government should interact with majority Christianity?
Show Notes
Article | Dan Koev, "What Can Ceasar Render Unto God?" Liberty magazine, September/October 2025. https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/what-can-caesar-render-unto-god 
Website | https://dankoev.carrd.co 
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Dan Koev, Department Chair; Professor, Government & Criminal Justice, Regent University.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-koev-59526263/ 
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/dankoev.bsky.social 

57: Omissions on the Religious Liberty Commission? Interview with Melissa Reid.

The Religious Liberty Commission, created by President Trump, has been hailed as a bold effort to protect faith. Whose voices are represented and is this body presenting a balanced view of America's constitutional, cultural, and religious heritage? This episode dives into the Commission’s hearings so far, and asks the question: how could its work shape the legal and policy landscape around religious liberty in coming years?
Show Notes
Website | Religious Liberty Commission/Department of Justice  https://www.justice.gov/religious-liberty-commission 
Website | Liberty magazine https://www.libertymagazine.org/ 
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Melissa Reid, associate director, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America
FB, Insta, YouTube: @NADReligiousLiberty

56: Pulpit Politics and Divine Endorsements. Interview with Chris Butler.

Should churches endorse political candidates from the pulpit? For decades, the Johnson Amendment has drawn a legal line: churches can speak prophetically on justice and policy, but they can’t back individual candidates. Critics call it censorship. Supporters say it protects the mission of faith communities from partisan capture. In this episode of Just Liberty, we explore what’s at stake for both churches and democracy if that boundary disappears.
Show Notes
Article | Chris Butler, "Yes to Politics in the Pulpit, No to Endorsements," Christianity Today, July 15, 2025. https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/07/church-politics-endorse-candidate-pulpit-irs/
Article | "Divine Endorsements," Liberty magazine, September/October 2025.  https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/divine-endorsements 
Website | AND Campaign https://www.andcampaign.org 
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Chris Butler, Senior Pastor, Ambassador Church, Chicago, and Director of Christian Civic Formation at the Center for Christianity and Public Life.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/pastorchrisbutler
X: @Christhecitizen

55: A Global Movement on the Brink. Interview with Knox Thames.

International religious freedom is under pressure worldwide—and U.S. leadership is wavering. Knox Thames, veteran advocate and author of Ending Persecution, joins Just Liberty to discuss urgent global crises, the limits of traditional diplomacy, and practical strategies to reinvigorate the movement for conscience rights.
Show Notes
Book | Ending Persecution: Charting the Path to Global Religious Freedom by Knox Thames. https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268208677/ending-persecution/
Website | https://www.knoxthames.com
Article | Knox Thames, "Sacred sites as a new way to advance pluralism and human rights," Open Global Rights, April 7, 2025.  https://www.openglobalrights.org/sacred-sites-as-a-new-way-to-advance-pluralism-and-human-rights/ 
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Knox Thames, Senior Fellow at Pepperdine University
X: @KnoxThames
Linked: https://www.linkedin.com/in/knox-thames-7b46193/

54: A Street Preacher Gets His Day in Court. Interview with Nate Kellum

Should a street preacher in Brandon, Mississippi, be allowed to challenge the constitutionality of a local ordinance that was used to silence his message? The Supreme Court has agreed to hear Olivier v. City of Brandon, a case that brings together core civil liberties: the freedom of speech, the free exercise of religion, and the fundamental right of individuals to access the courts. At stake is whether citizens can meaningfully challenge government actions that suppress religious expression in public spaces.
Show Notes
Article | "Supreme Court to consider reviving Mississippi evangelist’s challenge to protest ordinance," by Ella Lee. https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5383473-supreme-court-evangelists-challenge/
Case description | https://firstliberty.org/cases/gabriel-olivier/#simple1
Cert Petition | First Liberty brief asking Supreme Court to review Olivier v. City of Brandon. https://firstliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Olivier-Cert.-Petition_Redacted.pdf
Website | First Liberty Institute https://firstliberty.org
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Nate Kellum, Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute
FB: https://www.facebook.com/firstlibertyinstitute
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/firstlibertyinstitute/
X: https://x.com/1stLiberty
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FirstLibertyInstitute

53: Dreadlocks and Damages: Religious Liberty Behind Bars. Interview with Steve McFarland and Todd McFarland.

What legal recourse does a Rastafarian inmate have when prison officials forcibly shave his head, violating his religious beliefs? The Supreme Court is preparing to weigh in on Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections, a case that could clarify whether government officials can be held personally liable for violating religious liberty rights—even behind bars. The outcome could have lasting implications for people of faith well beyond the prison walls.
Show Notes
Article | "Court to decide whether government officials can be held personally liable for violating inmate’s religious liberty," by Amy Howe. //www.scotusblog.com/2025/06/court-to-decide-whether-government-officials-can-be-held-personally-liable-for-violating-inmates-religious-liberty/
Case description | https://www.christianlegalsociety.org/case/landor-v-louisiana-department-of-corrections-public-safety/
Amicus brief | Christian Legal Society brief in support of Damon Landor. https://www.christianlegalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/CLS-Landor-brief-filed.pdf
Website | Christian Legal Society https://www.christianlegalsociety.org
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Steve McFarland is the director of the Center for Law & Religious Freedom, Christian Legal Society.
Todd McFarland is the deputy general counsel, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/clsnet/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/christian_legal_society/
 

52: The Classroom and the Constitution. Interview with Will Haun.

Does a parent’s right to direct their child’s religious upbringing end at the classroom door? As debates over public school curricula intensify across the country, a recent Supreme Court decision offers new insight into how far school districts must go to respect the religious freedom rights of parents. In this episode, we explore the legal landscape surrounding parental authority in education—and what this ruling could mean for the future of faith, family, and public schooling.
Show Notes
Article | "Pride and Prejudice" by Celeste Perrino. https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/pride-and-prejudice
Article | "When Inclusion Becomes Compulsion" by Asma Uddin. https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/07/when-inclusion-becomes-compulsion-mahmoud-v-taylor-pluralism-and-public-education/
Supreme Court decision | Mahmoud v. Taylor https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24-297_4f14.pdf
Website | Becket Fund for Religious Liberty www.becketfund.org
 
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William J. Haun is Senior Counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and a Nonresident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
 
X: https://x.com/becketfund
FB: https://www.facebook.com/becketfund
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BecketFundVideo
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/becketfund/

51: The Bewitching of the American Mind. Interview with Molly Worthen.

It's far more than simply charm, or rhetorical skill, or political savvy. Charisma is a powerful force that has shaped American public and religious life--for both good and ill--for more than four centuries. Could an undertanding of this phenomenon help us make better sense of our national story? And why does it seem that Americans of faith are particularly vulnerable to its allure? 
Show Notes
Book | Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump, by Molly Worthen - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/746737/spellbound-by-molly-worthen/
Article | "Charisma Rules the World" by Molly Worthen, New York Times (June 16, 2025) -  https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/opinion/charisma-history-trump.html