State of Belief
The Trump administration’s threats to education and religious freedom
In this week’s episode of The State of Belief, we’re diving into the high-stakes battle for religious freedom, democracy, and education with Maggie Siddiqi—the new senior fellow at Interfaith Alliance. Maggie is no stranger to the fight for equity. After serving in the Biden administration’s Department of Education, where she led faith-based and community partnerships, she’s now bringing her expertise to the front lines of interfaith advocacy.
With host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, Maggie addresses some urgent questions, including: Trump’s push to dismantle the Department of Education—what’s at stake for religious freedom and democracy? Bishop Marianne Budde’s fearless leadership—what does faithful resistance really look like? And the power of coalition-building—how can diverse religious communities come together to protect democracy?
Maggie doesn’t hold back when it comes to the contradictions in today’s political landscape. “Religious freedom is a matter of equity,” she says. “You can’t claim to support religious freedom while gutting the very institutions that make it possible.” She stresses that all students—religious or not—deserve to feel seen, respected, and included in their schools. And that extends to everyone living in this country.
With her deep background in interfaith relations, faith-based advocacy, and public policy, Maggie offers powerful insights on how we can stand up for justice in a time of rising division.
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Ray Kirstein is the Producer of the State of Belief podcast.
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On Diversity and Democracy With Wajahat Ali
This week on The State of Belief, Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush talks with author, commentator and attorney Wajahat Ali, who maintains that everybody has a superpower. Waj lists some of them, and stresses how important it is not to throw up our hands in the face of massive challenges and threats from the current administration and its supporters.
A Pastor Reports from the Frontlines In Los Angeles: Faith and Immigration
This week on The State of Belief, an inspiring conversation with Rev. Noel Andersen, the National Field Director for Church World Service and a dedicated advocate for immigrant rights. In this episode, he joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to delve into the pressing issues surrounding immigration enforcement, the role of faith communities, and the ongoing fight for justice in the face of adversity. Here are three key takeaways that stand out:
Leah Greenberg, Indivisible, and No Kings: "You do not need permission to get started"
This week on The State of Belief – getting ready for No Kings Day on June 14th, an initiative of the national grassroots organization Indivisible. Co-founder Leah Greenberg explains that No Kings Day is a forceful nationwide response to the royal pretensions on display in Donald Trump's demand for a multi-million dollar military parade on his 79th birthday. Leah joins Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the importance of getting involved rather than discouraged, share past Indivisible successes and lessons learned, and the essential role faith leaders and communities play in giving credibility to public actions like this.