Advertise on podcast: The State Of Belief

What does it mean to serve the Constitution—not a person or a political party? On The State of Belief, retired Rear Admiral Michael E. Smith joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the military oath, democracy, and why faith and national security leaders must work together. We get the admiral’s perspective on how politicization can affect military leadership, morale, recruitment, and retention. At the heart of the conversation is a shared responsibility: keeping the military nonpartisan and ensuring that people of different faiths, beliefs, and backgrounds are equally respected in all areas of life. Adm. Michael E. Smith is founder and president of National Security Leaders for America, with a focus on protecting democratic norms and defending the right to vote. He retired after 32 years of service in the U.S. Navy, having earned a bronze star during one of his three combat tours overseas. His career culminated with a role as the independent authority responsible to Congress for evaluating the effectiveness of every ship and submarine in the Navy. Mike was also a key advisor and direct report to Admiral Mike Mullen, then the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Senior Military Advisor to the President. The State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s one way to deflate the fear and uncertainty that’s being manufactured around the coming election? “By throwing a party at your local polling place and inviting your community to attend.” That’s the unorthodox suggestion from Kyle Lierman, CEO of Civic Nation. The tactic’s already been tried out, it works, and it’s only one of the creative ideas Kyle brings to his conversation with host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush on The State of Belief (hosted from Interfaith Alliance's The Vote Is Sacred bus, in motion!)  With impactful projects such as Party at the Polls and When We All Vote, Kyle and Civic Nation are inspiring and empowering people nationwide to defend the vote - and democracy. This week we also hear highlights from an event kicking off Interfaith Alliance’s The Vote Is Sacred bus tour in Omaha – Paul’s in-person conversation with Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, who wrote and produced a short film about his grandfather’s attempts to exercise his right to vote in the Jim Crow south. You can watch the film at www.otisdream.com Kyle Lierman held several prominent positions in the Obama White House, and led Michelle Obama’s democracy initiative “When We All Vote.” Today, Kyle is CEO of Civic Nation, a nonpartisan nonprofit that brings together organizers and educators who are working toward a more inclusive, more equitable America. In 2024, Civic Nation saw concrete returns for its work to increase participation among young and minority voters, and those efforts are being expanded this year to motivate a broad cross-section of eligible voters. Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III is a powerhouse American pastor, preacher, author, poet, filmmaker, and civil rights advocate. He serves as the senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois, a position he has held since 2008. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, he is the son of the prominent civil rights leader and pastor Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr. The State of Belief  host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Five million. Seven million. Eight million. That’s how participation in the No Kings movement has grown – and on October 17th, it’s time for the biggest yet, No Kings: Vote Early, with the focus on ensuring every eligible voter casts their ballot, and can do so safely. This week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush talks with Indivisible co-founder Leah Greenberg about community organizing, voter participation, and the power of neighbors coming together. It’s a hope-filled conversation about defeating authoritarianism and expressing love for our democracy – and for each other. Meanwhile, Interfaith Alliance has launched its nonpartisan The Vote Is Sacred bus tour, with stops in 15 states leading up to Election Day.  Leah Greenberg is co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisble and  catalyst for the nationwide No Kings initiatives. Her book, written with her husband Ezra Levin, is titled We Are Indivisible: A Blueprint for Democracy After Trump, and you can hear Leah and Ezra on Indivisible’s “What’s the Plan” podcast. The State of Belief  host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is joined by a preeminent expert on Christian Nationalism and the New Reformation Movement: Dr. Matthew D. Taylor. His new book (out Oct. 6th) is Defying Tyrants: Following Jesus in a World of Christian Antichrists. We get deep into the history and harm of this word: a quest for power that looks like faith, talks like faith - but then harms people in Jesus’ name. Matt makes a case that’s both biblical and uncomfortably current. He argues that “Antichrist” isn’t just about bad doctrine—it can describe people who claim Christ but act against him. We also get into Jesus and empire, Christian Nationalism, Pete Hegseth, and what it might look like to resist tyranny without violence. Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is an award-winning religious studies scholar, author, and nationally-recognized speaker on religion and politics in the United States. He's a visiting scholar at Georgetown University's Center on Faith and Justice, and is one of the leading researchers of Christian Nationalism and the New Apostolic Reformation, charismatic Christian movements that are quietly growing influence on American politics. Matt holds a PhD in religious studies and Muslim-Christian relations from Georgetown University, and has taught at Georgetown and George Washington University. His books include Scripture People: Salafi Muslims in Evangelical Christian America, and The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy. The State of Belief  host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes a living legend: Rev. Dr. Molly T. Marshall, a pioneering voice in theological education and an advocate for gender justice in the Church. As she embarks on her final year as president of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, Dr. Marshall reflects on her remarkable journey, including the challenges she faced as a preacher and educator ordained in the Southern Baptist Convention just as that denomination began its long descent into marginalizing women. Her career survived the threat of a heresy trial and expanded into a multifaith and ever more inclusive vision for the Church and for our society. More about Molly Marshall: Rev. Dr. Marshall is a founding member of Baptist Women in Ministry, and her deeply influential books include Joining the Dance: A Theology of the Spirit, and What It Means to Be Human: Made in the Image of God. She received her PhD from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has served as president of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities since 2022. The State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when religious belief becomes a tool for political control? This week, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA) joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss Christian nationalism, the unexplored religious dimensions of January 6, and why church-state separation protects people of faith and nonbelievers alike. The congressman shares some of the stories in his best-selling new book, No Prophets: The Fight to Save Democracy From Christian Nationalism.  They also explore Rep. Huffman’s journey from devout Christianity to humanism (spoiler alert: he was ordained!), the growing influence of religious networks in Congress, and what it means to defend a pluralistic democracy from authoritarian threats.  More About Rep. Jared Huffman: First elected to Congress in 2012, Jared Huffman represents California’s 2nd District. With Rep. Jamie Raskin, he co-founded and co-leads the Congressional Freethought Caucus, and works to promote sound public policy based on reason, science and moral values, while protecting the secular character of government and championing the value of freedom of thought worldwide. Prior to his legislative service, Jared worked as a Senior Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“It is as bad as you think it is - and probably worse.” Those chilling words from Dr. Robert P. Jones, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush’s guest this week, mirror the gravity of the title of his new book: Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy. A historian and sociologist, Robby credibly traces the parallels between 2026 American democracy and 1933 Germany, in particular highlighting the reluctance of the Church to meaningfully engage with the flood of authoritarianism in the country at the time. The crisis of faith and the crisis of democracy Robby sees in the United States today have parallel origins – but also will both benefit from similar prescriptions, which he shares in detail in his book – and in this interview. Dr. Robert P. Jones is founder and president of the Public Religion Research Institute. His best-selling books include The End of White Christian America; White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity, and The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future. Robby's brand new book is titled Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation after the Christian Turn Against Democracy, and his Substack is Redeeming Democracy. The State of Belief  host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. Here's Robby's article mentioned in the interview: What White Christians Have Wrought Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How is public paralysis an actual tool of authoritarianism? Democracy Forward President Skye Perryman lays out the answer in conversation with host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush on The State of Belief. She’s written the ultimate antidote, a book titled Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times: How to Reclaim Your Power, Fight for Freedom, and Reimagine Democracy. Listen to this week’s episode for Skye’s key action items including: • Audit your information intake and identify what is helping or harming your understanding. • Replace doomscrolling with one concrete action, even if it only takes five minutes. • Practice speaking across difference without surrendering your values. • Find one local or national way to support democracy work this week. • Treat courage and joy as part of the same long-term civic practice. You’ll come away changed and with a renewed sense of hope and possibility. The State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the chaos of today’s American politics accidental? Not at all, according to Protect Democracy Executive Director Ian Bassin. This week, he tells host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush about the seven-point playbook of modern authoritarians - and how to counter it. Ian also describes the three "d" strategy to attack democracy: Deceive, Disrupt, and Deny. He also shares a Protect Democracy resource for understanding and defeating this strategy, the Executive Override Report, available at protectdemocracy.org/DDD August 11th is National Poll Worker Recruitment Day,  and the website Powerthepolls.org contains a wealth of information about getting involved, hands-on, in our electoral system – and our democracy. More about Ian Bassin You may recognize Ian’s name from a powerful Ted Talk titled, How to spot authoritarianism — and choose democracy. He’s a former White House counsel and 2023 MacArthur Fellow, and Founder and Executive Director of Protect Democracy, which works to defeat authoritarian tactics and build a stronger, fairer democracy. Protect Democracy partnered with Interfaith Alliance to produce a moving series of advertisements promoting the message “Choose Love, Not Ice”, and the article co-authored by Ian Bassin and Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is titled, We Need A New Great Awakening. The State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s easy to look at the Trump White House and say, "It's not like it used to be.” But this week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes Peter Maer, a journalist who covered every president from Carter to Obama and brings a first-person account of how things really were… And how they appear to be now. Peter served as a network White House correspondent from 1977 to 1995. His new memoir is titled, Chasing the Story: A Reporter's Journey to the White House. Peter recalls how religion was expressed in past presidencies, and isn’t shy to share his impressions of the current administration’s fraught relationship with the press. More About Peter Maer Journalist Peter Maer first reported on the American presidency for Mutual Radio in 1977. He later served as White House correspondent for NBC radio, and from 1998 until retiring in 2015 Peter was CBS Radio News White House correspondent. His tenure spans the terms of presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, and Obama. In those 29 years he also covered every presidential campaign, convention, and election from 1980 through 2012, earning five Merriman Smith Awards from the White House Correspondents' Association. The State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI is all around us – and you've probably been affected by both the hype and the scaremongering. The fact is, harnessing it for the good is as much a question of ethics and intentionality as it is of technology. That’s according to technologist, entrepreneur, and best-selling author Cheryl Contee. This week, we get into AI's role for nonprofits, faith communities, and ethical AI training, as well as AI’s potential to revolutionize healthcare, education, and longevity. Cheryl stresses the role of religious leaders and faith communities navigating AI’s influence, including Pope Leo’s call to “disarm artificial intelligence.” This episode is about as timely as any we have ever produced. More about Cheryl Contee: Cheryl Contee is an author, investor, and entrepreneur, as well as a leading expert on real-life applications for artificial intelligence. Cheryl is currently Chief Innovation Officer at Brightworks.ai, Senior Advisor to PosterChild.ai and Changeagent.ai. She's the co-author of the best-selling book AI for Nonprofits: Putting Artificial Intelligence to Work for Your Cause. The State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This weekend, July 17-19th, people across this country are carrying on the legacy of the late civil rights icon and Congressman John Lewis, who famously called the work of justice “making good trouble.” It’s the “Good Trouble Lives On” Weekend of Action, and historian David Greenberg, author of the authoritative biography John Lewis: A Life, joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush on The State of Belief. Challenges that Rep. Lewis faced as a civil rights activist are reemerging like never before - and the lessons of his activism can help guide us forward today. On Thursday, July 16th, Senator Alex Padilla, along with the coalition Faithful Democracy, convened an interfaith roundtable discussion on protecting elections and voting rights to commemorate the legacy of Congressman John Lewis, six years after his passing.    We start the show with just a few minutes from this historic event, which brought together diverse leaders and a total of ten sitting members of the US Senate. More about David Greenberg: Dr. David Greenberg is a historian, author, and journalist who focuses on U.S. political history, the presidency, media, and public opinion. He is a professor of history, and journalism and media studies at Rutgers University, and among his books is a comprehensive biography of the late congressman and civil rights icon, John Lewis. The State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you noticed how faith and belief have been showing up on one of the biggest stages in sports? From prayer circles to Islamic sujood, religion is shining bright at the World Cup. Religion News Service’s Madhiha Anis wrote about the various expressions of faith and belief on the global stage in an article headlined "From Christian Prayer Circles to Sujood, Religion Is All Over the 2026 World Cup." She joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to explore her observations. It's striking how these rituals aren’t just rituals—they’re powerfully real expressions of identity and hope. It’s a reminder that behind every goal, there’s a person carrying their beliefs, their culture, their whole self into the match. Also with us: RNS National Reporter Jack Jenkins , with his take on the Cup as well as how religion is influencing our political debates, particularly around the anniversary of America’s 250th year and during midterm elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this 250th Independence Day, how much do our founding documents still matter to Americans? It turns out a lot, according to guest Prof. Jeffrey Rosen. CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, he’s a law professor at George Washington University and has traveled the country speaking to diverse audiences that share a deep commitment to our nation’s founding principles.  Jeff quotes from memory host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush's great-grandfather Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis on free speech, and explains the thinking that the various founders brought to this experiment in democracy. Another highlight of the conversation: Enlightenment rational values were the driving force behind the Constitution’s emphasis on religious freedom for all. He doesn’t hesitate to point to where the founders fell far short of their ideals, but that fact ultimately offers hope for our time: we’ve come this far despite setbacks and mistakes – and so the conflicts and division of today don’t automatically guarantee failure in the years ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, Americans still believe that religious liberty is a cornerstone of our democracy. Against that backdrop, the Trump administration’s creation of a Religious Liberty Commission in May 2025 that is utterly lacking in diversity, and risks favoring some voices while leaving out others – called for a comprehensive response. Called to respond, Interfaith Alliance, in partnership with Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU), the American Humanist Association (AHA), and the Center for American Progress (CAP), brought together 20 leading voices from across the spectrum of religions and beliefs to author Religious Liberty for All: Celebrating This Founding Freedom at America 250. The release event, held June 16th at CAP, featured US Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) as the keynote speaker, words from CAP’s Neera Tanden, and panel discussions featuring Rachel Laser of AU, Fish Stark of AHA, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush of Interfaith Alliance, Interfaith America’s Chris Crawford, Ria Chakrabarti of Hindus for Human Rights, and Adam Russel Taylor from Sojourners. This week, Interfaith Alliance Senior Vice President for Policy and Outreach Dr. Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons joins Paul to describe the origins and importance of this report, and to share highlights of the release event itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices