Atheist Mind, Humanist Heart -- John Figdor on Freethougt Radio #

In The News: football baptisms, proselytizing teachers, Fox & Friends lecturing FFRF on "culture of the South," and USA Today acknowledging FFRF's accomplishments. Then we talk with John Figdor, Humanist Chaplain at Stanford University, about his new book Atheist Mind, Humanist Heart: Rewriting the Ten Commandments for the Twenty-First Century.
Interview:
http://ffrf.libsyn.com/atheist-mind-humanist-heart

Can This Woman Make Evangelical Christianity Sane Again?

Meet the most polarizing woman in Evangelicalism.
...  Read more

Our Democracy Is Doomed: Match the Plutocrat to the GOP Candidate He Owns

The 2016 GOP race is expected to bring out billionaires bankrolling their candidates.
...  Read more

I Want to Live in a World... Matt Dillahunty Speech

Matt Dillahunty gave this amazing speech at Skepticon 7 that, for me, was eerily reminiscent of the MLK I Have a Dream speech. It may be difficult for some to believe that the current situation is similar to that of 1963, but I would actually argue that it is worse.

For hundreds of years religion has preyed upon those who are unable to accept the finality of life, promising them great rewards in an afterlife if only they submit to man-made authority in the here and now. In that process, religion is responsible for the deaths of millions, maybe even billions.

Merely mentioning the historic anti-scientific nature of religion and how hindering scientific progress prevented vaccines, cures, and medicines from being developed sooner, is enough to end the doubts about the veracity of that claim. That one facet of religion has directly and indirectly killed an incomprehensible number of people, and is enough ask for the end of religion forever. Asking is not good enough for me though. I will fight for the end of religion.
http://youtu.be/RAQc_MkpolE

Amtrak IS Making Money for America!

Thom Hartmann explains Amtrak is a good investment for America because it is a vital part of business.
http://youtu.be/cyPK41vSkkM

MIT study concludes solar energy has best potential for meeting the planet's long-term energy needs...

...while reducing greenhouse gases, and federal and state governments must do more to promote its development... Read more

Fox Host: Hillary Clinton Is 'The Most Corrupt Woman' In World History (VIDEO)

Fox News' Andrea Tantaros on Wednesday declared Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton the "most corrupt woman in the history of the world.... Read more

GOP Rep.: If Bush Knew Obama Would Be Prez, He Would Have Re-Thought Iraq War

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) on Tuesday said that former President George W. Bush (R) may have gone about the Iraq invasion differently if he had known h... Read more

Ted Cruz Blasts ‘The Left’ For Focus On Marriage Equality, Says Liberals Are ‘Obsessed With Sex’

Ironically, Cruz suggests focusing same-sex marriage isn't important. ... Read more

Rubio’s Gambian Human Rights Fiasco Gets Worse

If you're the president of the United States, you're seen as the chief democrat in the world, person with the moral authority ... Read more

Experts Blast New York Times Hit Piece On EPA

The New York Times put a 1,700-word piece on its front page Tuesday accusing EPA of violating federal laws on grassroots ... Read more

Arizona Will Boot Thousands From Welfare To Address $1 Billion Budget Hole

More than 1,600 families, including 2,700 children, will lose their benefits.  ... Read more

Study Links Record Dolphin Die-Off In The Gulf Of Mexico To Deepwater Horizon Spill

In a new study, researchers find that dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico region had major lung and adrenal lesions after the BP oil ... Read more

Scott Walker Lets Billionaire Donors Know the Outrageous Sum It'll Take to Buy Him Off

"Big money's takeover of our democracy has never been more blatant..."
...  Read more

6 Awesome Things About Bernie Sanders You Might Not Know

...The simplicity and directness of the setting signaled that Sanders wasn’t just another candidate in a crowded race, but a whole different kind of challenger. As Sanders was quick to warn, "People should not underestimate me.” He’s not kidding. As Sanders’ career has demonstrated, he doesn’t just hold policy positions, he acts on them...
...  Read more

Clinton Smear Book Author's Past Revealed: He Was Ghostwriter for Jesse Helms

Odd that Peter Schweizer's right-wing roots didn't give pause to the Times or Post.
...  Read more

Elizabeth Warren Fires Back at Obama with New Report On Failed Trade Enforcement

There's been a dismal record on enforcing labor standards.
...  Read more

9 Things You Should Know About Jehovah's Witnesses

http://youtu.be/OhN4QAiPoD8

And Now the Good News #137: 5/19/2015

http://youtu.be/tWIrnVCIKG8

The Slow-Mo Scandal That Could Crush Scott Walker's Presidential Hopes (Mother Jones)

In 2010, Scott Walker was the young, hyperambitious executive of Milwaukee County and one of three candidates angling for the Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial nomination. Part of his official duties included overseeing Operation Freedom, a charity event that raised money for veterans and their families. When Walker's chief of staff caught wind that $11,000 of the nonprofit's money had gone missing, Walker had his office ask the local district attorney to investigate. Now that he's seeking the Republican presidential nomination, he probably wishes it hadn't...
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/05/scott-walker-john-doe-investigation

Expiring 5/25 on Netflix: Confucius

This sweeping epic revisits China's Spring and Autumn periods through the dramatic biography of Confucius, the legendary Eastern philosopher.
http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/70125358?trkid=13641790

60 Percent: Record Number Of Americans Support Same-Sex Marriage In Poll

Gallup adds:

"About a quarter of Americans (26 percent) say they vote for a political candidate solely based on his or her stance on gay marriage. Many others say it is but one of several important factors (43 percent), and about one in four say it is not a major issue influencing how they vote (26 percent)."

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/05/19/408009627/60-percent-record-number-of-americans-support-same-sex-marriage-in-poll

2. Top 10 (Failed) Proofs the Bible is True: "First Proof: The Manuscript Evidence"

Episode 2 of a massive, multi-part series examining Bob Dutko's, Christian radio talkshow host and apologist, "Top 10 Proofs the Bible is True." In this episode, we examine Bob's first proof, "the manuscript evidence."
https://youtu.be/JED-Ud7vt6Q

Senior Vatican official offered bribe to child sex abuse victim, inquiry hears

David Ridsdale tells Australian inquiry that in 1993 he informed Cardinal George Pell about being abused and was offered money to buy his silence...
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/may/20/cardinal-george-pell-offered-bribe-to-child-sex-abuse-victim-inquiry-told

Notre Dame birth-control protest denied again

...The Seventh Circuit, noting that it had been puzzled about what the university actually wanted, at the time it refused temporary legal relief, remarked on Tuesday that “we now have (we think) a clearer idea of what the university wants.”  That, the opinion said, is that the court should prohibit the outside insurers from providing any contraceptive coverage for its staff or students...
http://www.scotusblog.com/2015/05/notre-dame-birth-control-protest-denied-again/#more-228346

7th Circuit again denies Notre Dame’s request for injunction in contraception suit

“In the university’s words, the contraception regulation imposes a substantial burden on it by forcing the university to ‘identify and contract with a third party willing to provide the very services Notre Dame deems objectionable,’” Posner wrote. “But the scanty record contains no evidence to support the conduit theory.”
http://www.theindianalawyer.com/th-circuit-again-denies-notre-dames-request-for-injunction-in-contraception-suit/PARAMS/article/37233

30 Google Drive Tips You Can't Afford to Miss

...Drive—one of our Editors' Choice suites—is a serious set of tools for serious (or fun) work, all entirely free. But it pays to know more than just the basics. That's why we've put together these 30 tips for you on how to get the most out of Google Drive. Share your own advice for fellow Drive-rs in the comments below...
http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/323450/30-google-drive-tips-you-can-t-afford-to-miss/

The Catholic Church's Surprisingly Central Role in the Idiotic Idea of Drug Prohibition

What does St. Teresa de Avila have to do with the origins of drug prohibition? More than you might imagine.
...  Read more

8 Disturbing Revelations About Policing in Baltimore Since the Freddie Gray Cops Were Arrested

We’ve learned a lot about policing in Baltimore since the six police officers involved in Freddie Gray’s arrest were charged in connection to his death.
...  Read more

Bill O’Reilly’s Daughter Testifies He Dragged Her Mom Down A Staircase By The Neck (VIDEO)

It's no secret that Bill O'Reilly has rage issues, but this is so disgusting that even Fox News will be hard press defending ... Read more

Unlucky Irish?: American Anti-Gay Groups Campaign Against Equality Referendum

The country already allows civil partnerships for same-sex couples, and in April this year, the government also extended adoption eligibility to same-sex couples.
... Read more

GOPers Scheme To Pay For TPP Deal By Stealing From Medicare

Republicans want to pay for an assistance program for workers whose jobs are lost through TPP by... taking the money out of Medicare! Nice! Michael Hi...  Read more

Kansas Legislature Threatens To Defund State Judiciary | Crooks and Liars

Now that the Kochs have bought themselves the Kansas statehouse and governor's office, they're out for the state courts...
http://crooksandliars.com/2015/05/kansas-legislature-threatens-defund-state

‘In God We Trust’: Is the motto on US currency unconstitutional?

Atheist activist Michael Newdow plans to have the phrase 'In God We Trust' removed from US bills and coins by invoking the Religious Freedom Restorati... Read more

Bernie Sander's Advice For Millionaires

A voting guide for the 1% from Bernie Sanders. .. ...  Read more

Let The Public Read The Completed Parts Of TPP Agreement

Basic facts about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) are under public dispute. Fast track must not be approved until this is cleared up. We the Peopl...  Read more

Former Obama Trade Adviser: Sen. Warren Is Right To Be Concerned

Michael Wessel is a former Obama campaign trade adviser who says, yes, Elizabeth Warren is right to be worried about the TPP. He cites the unprecedent...  Read more

Cancer charities defrauded donors of $187 million, feds say

The FTC says operators of four major cancer charities, including Cancer Fund of America, used millions in donations to pay for big salaries, vacations... Read more

What's in Obama's plan to reverse honey bee and butterfly decline

Insects such as the honey bee and monarch butterfly contribute as much as $15 billion to the US economy through pollination. Can the agriculture indus... Read more

Lifelong Republican Turns On His Party, Embraces Obamacare

"I'm in the situation I'm in because they chose not to expand Medicaid for political reasons."  ... Read more

After ‘Religious Freedom’ Bill Fails, Louisiana Governor Promises Identical Executive Order

Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) will violate his own principles to endorse anti-gay discrimination in Louisiana.  ... Read more

The Engineered Ignorance of Fox News

But there's one element of this story buried in the piece. The supporting role of Fox News. Not long after the terror attacks in Paris at the beginning of the year, Fox News went on a tear about no-go zones in Paris, Birmingham and other places - a run of fabrications so extreme that the station was compelled to issue one of the only retractions and apologies the network has ever issued.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-engineered-ignorance-of-fox-news

Herman Cain Supporters Get Email Warning Of 2017 Apocalypse

Supporters of Herman Cain's failed 2012 presidential bid received an email on Tuesday warning them that the nation is headed toward the apocalypse bec... Read more

These Studies Show How 'The Fox Effect' Pushed Congress, Country To The Right

In a paper published last week, conservative economist Bruce Bartlett made the case that Fox News has had a significant effect on the political process and electoral outcomes in America, yet another contribution to the study of "The Fox Effect."
... Read more

Kansas’ Governor Destroyed The State Budget With Massive Tax Cuts And Now Kansans Are Paying The Price

With a giant deficit looming, Kansas is spending $43,000 per day so that lawmakers can keep disagreeing about whether or not ... Read more

New York Senators Call Out Their Colleagues For Denying Climate Change

Some state Republicans have cast doubt on the existence of global warming based on the fact that New York had a very cold ... Read more

What Americans Know About The Gap Between The Rich And The Poor

Do you know how much of the total gains since the recession went to the top 1% of Americans?  ... Read more

Why We Should Spend Billions More On Trains

How Amtrak could be a lifesaver.  Read more

Host Of Rubio Fundraiser Was Foreign Agent For Dictator Who Endorses Gay Beheadings

National Security Advisor Susan Rice recently condemned The Gambia's president for comments warning gay citizens, "I will slit ... Read more

Here’s How The White House Plans To Curb Staggering Honeybee Losses

The White House is tackling the pollinator crisis head-on.  ... Read more

David Brooks Tries To Rewrite History Of The Iraq War

Rewriting history...He dismisses the idea that Bush bears any responsibility, writing, “There’s a fable going around now that the intelligence about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction was all cooked by political pressure, that there was a big political conspiracy to lie us into war.”
Read more

Streaming Now on Netflix: Bill Nye, the Science Guy

http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/80046944

Bill Nye - Denying science is "unpatriotic"

"If you're a politician looking to derail the progress of science, I think you're not doing your job."
Interview:
http://www.vox.com/2015/5/19/8621539/bill-nye-interview

California Lawyer With Terminal Cancer Sues State For Right To Die Peacefully

...The suit -- filed on behalf of the four plaintiffs by the nonprofit end-of-life advocacy organization Compassion & Choices -- asserts that the California constitution and existing state laws should allow medical professionals to prescribe mentally competent patients with terminal illnesses medications "they can take in their final days to end their dying process painlessly and peacefully, ending unbearable pain and suffering," according to a news release...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/18/california-lawsuit-aid-in-dying_n_7308648.html
https://youtu.be/ZKnrjK8N5q4

Albert R. Hunt: Will rise of nonreligious reshape US politics?

"The single greatest mobilizing force for secularists is the religious right, especially among millennials," Campbell said. Even at Notre Dame, the most famous U.S. Catholic institution, "there is almost no sympathy for the religious right's traditionalist's views."

Political leaders of the evangelical movement don't dispute Pew's findings, but question the implications. They argue that the ascendancy of nonbelievers would energize their base on issues ranging from same-sex marriage to the "war on Christmas" and even, for some, mixed-religion marriage.
http://www.bradenton.com/2015/05/19/5806429_albert-r-hunt-will-rise-of-nonreligious.html

AD 36 - Was THAT a year?!

Drill down on the Christian timeline and what you find are endless anomalies and mismatches with real history. How can the chronology of the "most important event in history" be so uncertain? Because it is not history at all but a fable retrofitted into history.
http://youtu.be/f6JMc-CPvY4

Pope Francis Makes Tea Party Heads Explode—Why Louie Gohmert and Steve King Have It in for the Pontiff

GOP members are worried about what Pope Francis will say in his speech to Congress, and it's great.
...  Read more

The Catholic Church Won’t Sack Child Abusers, But Fires Priest For Gay-Friendly Facebook Post (IMAGE)

Truly a dismal state of affairs for a Church which claims moral authority across the globe. Read more

Unfair Dealer: Cleveland Newspaper Attacks AU Over Christian Opera

...The opera, “I Am Martol,” was written by Ben Richard, a choral music teacher at South High School. Its plot concerns a sinner who is approached by a messenger from God and given a final chance to repent by accepting the Lord’s message of salvation. The sinner does so and ascends into heaven. In other words, it was the standard evangelical Christian message set to music. ... Read more