Crash Course: How "religious freedom" became a right-wing assault on equality and the rule of law

"American Crusade" author Andrew Seidel on the radicalized Supreme Court and its quest to enshrine Christian power [View in browser](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0Q2aHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL2xldHRlci81MjY3VwNzcGNCCmMzSW85Y3AwbZNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgpjM0lvOWNwMG2TUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). (Getty Images/Javier Art Photography) How "religious freedom" became a right-wing assault on equality and the rule of law The Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade sent shockwaves through the American electorate. But as shocking as the destruction of a fundamental right may be, more radical changes may lie ahead, as Andrew Seidel warns in his new book, "[American Crusade: How the Supreme Court Is Weaponizing Religious Freedom](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0QpaHR0cHM6Ly9ib29rc2hvcC5vcmcvYS8yNDY0Lzk3ODE0NTQ5NDM5MjFXA3NwY0IKYzNJbzljcDBtk1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo)." As I have [argued](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0SUaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMTYvMDEvMTYvdGhpc19pc190aGVfcmVsaWdpb3VzX3JpZ2h0c19yYWRpY2FsX25ld19wbGFuX3RoZV92ZXJ5X3JlYWxfZWZmb3J0c190b19jcmVhdGVfYW5fYW1lcmljYW5fdGhlb2NyYWN5X2luX3BsYWluX3NpZ2h0L1cDc3BjQgpjM0lvOWNwMG2TUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) [repeatedly](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0SHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMTcvMDEvMTcvcmVsaWdpb3VzLWZyZWVkb20taXRzLWEtY29yZS1hbWVyaWNhbi1wcmluY2lwbGUtYW5kLWl0LWRvZXNudC1tZWFuLXdoYXQtcmlnaHQtd2luZ2Vycy13YW50LWl0LXRvLW1lYW4vVwNzcGNCCmMzSW85Y3AwbZNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) [over](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjAvMDEvMjAvcmVsaWdpb3VzLXdhcnMtd2l0aC10aGUtY2hyaXN0aWFuLXJpZ2h0LW9uLXRoZS1vZmZlbnNpdmUtYWN0aXZpc3RzLWFyZS1maWdodGluZy1iYWNrL1cDc3BjQgpjM0lvOWNwMG2TUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) the past [several years](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMDEvMjMvdGhlLXN0cnVnZ2xlLWZvci1yZWxpZ2lvdXMtZnJlZWRvbS0tZnJvbS10aG9tYXMtamVmZmVyc29uLXRvLWJsYWNrLWxpdmVzLW1hdHRlci9XA3NwY0IKYzNJbzljcDBtk1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), the religious right has mounted a sustained struggle to pervert the meaning of religious freedom, transforming it from a shield to protect the rights of all to worship freely into a sword wielded by the most powerful.  [Read the rest from Paul Rosenberg.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDEvaG93LXJlbGlnaW91cy1mcmVlZG9tLWJlY2FtZS1hLXJpZ2h0LXdpbmctb24tZXF1YWxpdHktYW5kLXRoZS1ydWxlLW9mLWxhdy9XA3NwY0IKYzNJbzljcDBtk1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) (Getty Images/Justin Paget) Promotion from Finny [Sign up for free!] Game-based finance education for working adults! When it comes down to learning good money habits, there's so much jargon out there. Finny's newsletter, The Gist, is different. Twice a week, you'll get simple 5-minute breakdowns of top money trends, personal finance, and investing tips delivered right to your inbox - for free. We highly recommend it. [Sign up for free!](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvcmRla2RpNzR5d1cDc3BjQgpjM0lvOWNwMG2TUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) Dogs can smell your stress, study finds As any dog owner will attest, dogs can seem eerily attuned to human behavior. When humans yell or pick a fight, dogs often respond with anger and fear. Similarly, people with sedentary lifestyle may have seemingly sedentary pets: a 2021 study found a correlation between dog obesity and human obesity. Now, a [new study](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RJaHR0cHM6Ly9qb3VybmFscy5wbG9zLm9yZy9wbG9zb25lL2FydGljbGU_aWQ9MTAuMTM3MS9qb3VybmFsLnBvbmUuMDI3NDE0M1cDc3BjQgpjM0lvOWNwMG2TUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) sheds light on the peculiar ways that dogs seem to be able to pick up on human vibes. Specifically, researchers found that when you are stressed, your body produces a distinct odor — and our canine friends can smell it. [Read the rest from Matthew Rozsa.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDEvZG9ncy1jYW4tc21lbGwteW91ci1zdHJlc3Mtc3R1ZHktZmluZHMvVwNzcGNCCmMzSW85Y3AwbZNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - [Book bans](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDEvYm9vay1iYW5zLXJlZmxlY3Qtb3V0ZGF0ZWQtYmVsaWVmcy1hYm91dC1ob3ctY2hpbGRyZW4tcmVhZF9wYXJ0bmVyL1cDc3BjQgpjM0lvOWNwMG2TUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) reflect outdated beliefs about how children read - Elon Musk debuts [humanoid robot](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDEvZWxvbi1tdXNrLWRlYnV0cy1odW1hbm9pZC1yb2JvdC1vcHRpbXVzL1cDc3BjQgpjM0lvOWNwMG2TUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~), Optimus - [Shawn Colvin](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0SAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDEvc2hhd24tY29sdmluLW9uLXBheWluZy1kdWVzLWxpa2UtdGhlLWJlYXRsZXMtaW4taGFtYnVyZy1hbmQtd3JpdGluZy1yZXZlbmdlLWluLXN1bm55LWNhbWUtaG9tZS9XA3NwY0IKYzNJbzljcDBtk1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) on paying dues "like the Beatles in Hamburg" and writing revenge in "Sunny Came Home" - How a [Chinese fossil discovery](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDEvaG93LWEtY2hpbmVzZS1maXNoLWZvc3NpbC1kaXNjb3ZlcnktcmV3cml0ZXMtdGhlLWhpc3Rvcnktb2YtbGlmZS1vbi1lYXJ0aC9XA3NwY0IKYzNJbzljcDBtk1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) rewrites the history of life on Earth - [Don't pitch those masks](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDEvZG9udC1waXRjaC10aG9zZS1tYXNrcy1uZXctc3VyZ2UtaW4tdWstc2hvd3Mtd2hhdHMtd2FpdGluZy1mb3ItdXMtdGhpcy1mYWxsL1cDc3BjQgpjM0lvOWNwMG2TUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)! New COVID surge in U.K. shows what's waiting for us this fall - "[Statewide book bans](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDEvc3RhdGV3aWRlLWJvb2stYmFucy1hcmUtY29taW5nLXRvLWZsb3JpZGFzLWNsYXNzcm9vbXMtZW5mb3JjZWQtYnktdGhlLWZhci1yaWdodC9XA3NwY0IKYzNJbzljcDBtk1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo)" are coming to Florida's classrooms, enforced by the far right - Departing Trump officials allegedly hid photos of [Hunter Biden](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0R1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDEvZGVwYXJ0aW5nLW9mZmljaWFscy1hbGxlZ2VkbHktaGlkLXBob3Rvcy1vZi1odW50ZXItYmlkZW4taW4taHZhYy1hcy1hLXByYW5rX3BhcnRuZXIvVwNzcGNCCmMzSW85Y3AwbZNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) in White House HVAC as a prank - Ryan Murphy's "[Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMzAvcnlhbi1tdXJwaHktbW9uc3Rlci1qZWZmcmV5LWRhaG1lci1zdG9yeS1wcm9ibGVtL1cDc3BjQgpjM0lvOWNwMG2TUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)" is an example of the brand undermining the mission - [Gavin Newsom](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0R0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMzAvZ2F2aW4tbmV3c29tLXB1c2hlcy1mb3ItY2FsaWZvcm5pYS10by1iZWNvbWUtc2FuY3R1YXJ5LXN0YXRlLWZvci10cmFuc2dlbmRlci15b3V0aC9XA3NwY0IKYzNJbzljcDBtk1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) pushes for California to become sanctuary state for transgender youth - Does cannabis really make people apathetic? New research suggests the ["lazy stoner" myth](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0SBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMzAvZG9lcy1jYW5uYWJpcy1yZWFsbHktbWFrZS1wZW9wbGUtYXBhdGhldGljLW5ldy1yZXNlYXJjaC1zdWdnZXN0cy10aGUtbGF6eS1zdG9uZXItbXl0aC1pc250LXRydWUvVwNzcGNCCmMzSW85Y3AwbZNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) isn't true - The untold story behind ["Strawberry Fields Forever"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMzAvc3RyYXdiZXJyeS1maWVsZHMtZm9yZXZlci1iZWF0bGVzLWpvaG4tbGVubm9uLW9yaWdpbi9XA3NwY0IKYzNJbzljcDBtk1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - Can plants think? The [burgeoning field of plant neurobiology](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0R8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMzAvY2FuLXBsYW50cy10aGluay10aGUtYnVyZ2VvbmluZy1maWVsZC1vZi1wbGFudC1uZXVyb2Jpb2xvZ3ktaGFzLWEtbG90LXRvLXNheS1vbi10aGUtbWF0dGVyL1cDc3BjQgpjM0lvOWNwMG2TUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) has a lot to say on the matter - Disney-esque and demented: Ti West on how his slasher movie ["Pearl"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDEvcGVhcmwtdGktd2VzdC1taWEtZ290aC1tYXh4eGluZS9XA3NwY0IKYzNJbzljcDBtk1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) compares to "Rocky Horror" Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgpjM0lvOWNwMG2TUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) to receive Crash Course. (Netflix) "The Great British Bake-Off" adds an attention-grabbing ingredient in the mix this season For a moment it seemed like "[The Great British Baking Show](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0Q5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL3RvcGljL3RoZS1ncmVhdC1icml0aXNoLWJha2luZy1zaG93VwNzcGNCCmMzSW85Y3AwbZNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~)" might go stale, having lost the feeling of essentiality bestowed on it by the pandemic. Don't get us wrong; good old "GBBO" (an acronym of[ its U.K. title "Great British Bake Off"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMTcvMDYvMjYvdGhlLWdyZWF0LWJyaXRpc2gtYmFraW5nLXNob3ctYS1zaG93LWJ5LWFueS1vdGhlci1uYW1lLXdvdWxkLW5vdC1iZS1hcy1zd2VldC9XA3NwY0IKYzNJbzljcDBtk1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo)) was a fine distraction before COVID was ever a thought, and will remain dear to us no matter what.  Now that more of us are hungry to leave the house as opposed to hunker down with a sourdough starter, it stands to reason that one of the panny's most popular comforts might be saved for later consumption instead of devoured each week. That was the theory until Nelsandro "Sandro" Farmhouse entered the tent. [Read the rest from Melanie McFarland.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RGaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDEvdGhlLWdyZWF0LWJyaXRpc2gtYmFrZS1vZmYtc2Vhc29uLTEzL1cDc3BjQgpjM0lvOWNwMG2TUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Rare tree dormouse not seen for 20 years found in Austria," [BBC](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0QxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvbS9uZXdzL2F2L3dvcmxkLWV1cm9wZS02MzA5NDY4OFcDc3BjQgpjM0lvOWNwMG2TUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "M&M's introduces its first new character for over a decade and people are already upset," [Unilad](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RQaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudW5pbGFkLmNvbS9uZXdzL21tcy1uZXctY2hhcmFjdGVyLXBlb3BsZS1ub3QtaGFwcHktMjAyMjEwMDEuYW1wLmh0bWxXA3NwY0IKYzNJbzljcDBtk1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Prince’s estate denied Sinead O’Connor use of ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ for new documentary," [NME](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0R7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubm1lLmNvbS9uZXdzL211c2ljL3ByaW5jZXMtZXN0YXRlLWRlbmllZC1zaW5lYWQtb2Nvbm5vci11c2Utb2Ytbm90aGluZy1jb21wYXJlcy0yLXUtZm9yLW5ldy1kb2N1bWVudGFyeS0zMzIwNzcyVwNzcGNCCmMzSW85Y3AwbZNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Matt Gaetz Votes Against Disaster Relief Days After Hurricane Ian Hits," [Newsweek](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RXaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmV3c3dlZWsuY29tL21hdHQtZ2FldHotdm90ZXMtYWdhaW5zdC1kaXNhc3Rlci1yZWxpZWYtaHVycmljYW5lLWlhbi0xNzQ4MDU1VwNzcGNCCmMzSW85Y3AwbZNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) (Alexei Nikolsky\TASS via Getty Images) Russian forces have allegedly detained the chief of Europe’s largest nuclear plant On Saturday morning, news began to circulate that Russian forces have allegedly blindfolded and then kidnapped the head of Europe's largest nuclear plant, which provides nuclear power to Ukraine. [Read the rest from Kelly McClure.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDEvcnVzc2lhbi1mb3JjZXMtaGF2ZS1hbGxlZ2VkbHktZGV0YWluZWQtdGhlLWNoaWVmLW9mLWV1cm9wZXMtbGFyZ2VzdC1udWNsZWFyLXBsYW50L1cDc3BjQgpjM0lvOWNwMG2TUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Our mailing address: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, DE 19801 [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmMzSW85Y3AwbZNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2022 Crash Course, All rights reserved. [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlG_RGP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgpjM0lvOWNwMG2TUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)