Freethought Radio

Dan Barker announces the publication of his new book, Free Will Explained. After hearing about FFRF in the news and complaining about a Tennessee pastor who sexually molested a high-school girl and then apologized to his church to a standing ovation, we learn the connection between the anniversary of Otis Redding's "Sittin' On The Dock of the Bay" and Dan Barker's piano playing. Then, after hearing world-renowned classical pianist Jarred Dunn play Chopin, we speak with him (on the phone from Poland) about his freethought views, and about the views of Chopin.

The first-ever Atheist Flag, erected by FFRF member Richard Gagnon, appeared this week in Somersworth, New Hampshire. We announce the debut broadcast of FFRF's new TV Show, "Freethought Matters," beginning Sunday on CBS in Madison, Wisconsin. FFRF attorney Ryan Jayne tells us about stopping a $5,000 city grant to a church in Sitka, Alaska. Then we speak with former Southern Baptist minister John Compere, who is now an atheist working with The Clergy Project, helping other preachers and priests to leave the ministry.

When U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) courageously resisted Trump's "smear against women" Tweet that she learned about during a Congressional bible study, Annie Laurie told Gillibrand: "The bible is even worse than Trump!" After hearing Iranian-born feminist and atheist activist Maryam Namazie's acceptance speech for the Hank Zumach "Freedom From Fundamentalist Religion" award, we listen to jazz singer Susan Hofer perform the (freethinker) Frank Loesser song "What Are You Doing New Year's?" that she sang (accompanied by Dan Barker on the piano) during FFRF's December 20 Winter Solstice party at Freethought Hall.

FFRF's Winter Solstice signs have been erected around the country, one of which was vandalized in Olympia, Washington. Our full-page New York Times ad ran today, during a time when more Americans consider "Christmas" to be a purely secular holiday. After FFRF Legal Fellow Colin McNamara tells us about religious instruction in Wisconsin prisons, we listen to a number of irreverent and moving songs about the Winter Solstice, including Tom Lehrer's "Christmas Carol," "Blah Blah Bethlehem," Ken Lohnquist's "Isthmus Tree," "Merry Frickin Christmas," and Tim Minchin's "White Wine in the Sun."

Many victories to report on the eve of Bill of Rights Day: IRS Clergy Housing Allowance enjoined, Texas Judge rebuffed, Trump's theocratic judicial nominee rejected, nativity scene moved from Pennsylvania city property, Christian mentoring program stopped in South Carolina schools. After celebrating the defeat of the religious ideologue Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, we talk with Diana Sabillon, a feminist atheist in Honduras who is fighting state/church entanglement in a country drenched in religion.

FFRF's secular Winter Solstice displays are going up around the country. FFRF attorney Chris Line tells us about the 350+ letters we mailed to high-school superintendents warning them of the proselytizing Todd Becker Foundation that preys on students. After celebrating the birthdays of actress Hermione Gingold and British comedian Kate Smurthwaite, we talk with Lubna Ahmed, who had to flee Iraq and seek asylum in the United States after receiving death threats due to her outspoken atheism and feminism.

Fifteen groups join an Americans United amicus brief supporting FFRF's federal court victory against a large public cross in Pensacola, Florida. Dan Barker asks for help in his appeal of a DC judge's dismissal of his lawsuit challenging the Congressional chaplain's refusal to allow a secular invocation before the House of Representatives. After learning the history behind the song "It Ain't Necessarily So", we talk with Larry Decker, Executive Director of the Secular Coalition For America, about how to improve the image of nonbelievers and lobby for secular law.

What are the real origins of Thanksgiving? Stand-up comedian Leighann Lord shares with us her hilarious "Six Things to Argue About at Thanksgiving Other Than Politics." Then Eva Quiñones, president of Humanistas Seculares de Puerto Rico, on the phone from Puerto Rico, tells us what it has been like since Hurricanes Irma and Maria battered the island, how atheists and humanists are delivering food, water, and emergency supplies to victims, and what freethinkers are doing there to keep state and church separate.

Dan talks about his trip to Central America, where he spoke for the Honduran Freethinkers and Guatemala Humanists, a tour that included four national television and one national radio interview. After discussing Senate candidate Roy Moore's theocratic hypocrisy, we announce recent FFRF victories in the public schools in Texas and West Virginia. Then we hear renowned composer Brent Michael Davids, a member of the Mohican tribe, talk about "Do you know an American Indian atheist?"

Freethought Radio takes a trenchant look at recent insensitive religious absurdities by Rev. Pat Robertson, Bishop Robert Morlino, President Trump and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. We play Roy Zimmerman's satiric "To the Victims of This Tragedy" as commentary on "thoughts and prayers" substituting for action. FFRF Patrick O'Reiley Legal Fellow Chris Line joins us to talk about the hysterical hullabaloo over his recent victory ending football prayer at a Georgia high school. Investigative reporter Katherine Stewart, author of The Good News Club, returns to talk about her new piece about another threat to secular public education, "The Proselytizers and the Privatizers," appearing in this month's American Prospect.