James Talarico Draws on David and Jesus in Texas Senate Victory Speech

James Talarico Draws on David and Jesus in Texas Senate Victory Speech

Democratic Texas state Rep. James Talarico drew comparisons between himself and the biblical figures of David and Jesus in a victory speech Tuesday after defeating Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the state's U.S. Senate election. “I'm reminded of that story from Scripture of a shepherd boy who goes up against a giant,” Talarico told supporters in Austin shortly before midnight.
  • 7 in 10 Americans Identify With a Religion as Religious Affiliation, Service Attendance Stabilize: Pew
    Religious affiliation and participation in the United States have remained largely unchanged in recent years, marking a shift from decades of declining religious engagement, according to new findings from the Pew Research Center. The latest analysis, published as part of Pew’s “Comparing Results Across Religious Landscape Studies,” found that 70% of American adults identified with a religion in 2026, nearly matching the 71% recorded in 2020.
  • DHS Faith Director Calls for Greater Christian Political Engagement Ahead of Midterms
    A Department of Homeland Security official and Hispanic Christian leaders are encouraging churches and believers to take a more active role in public affairs as the United States prepares for next month’s midterm elections. Irene Armendariz-Jackson, who serves as faith director at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), delivered remarks Tuesday during the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference’s (NHCLC) 25th Anniversary.

Protestant Voters Favor Republicans in Midterm House Races, 49% to 32%: Pew Survey

Protestant voters are more likely to support Republican candidates in the upcoming midterm House elections, with white Evangelical Protestants showing the strongest preference for the GOP, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center. Among registered voters nationwide, 44% said they intend to vote for the Democratic candidate in their congressional district, compared with 36% who favor the Republican candidate.
  • Fewer U.S. Teens Identify as Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual, CDC Data Shows
    New federal survey data shows a notable decline in the percentage of younger American teenagers who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual, prompting researchers and commentators to debate what may be driving the change. An analysis of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that the shift was especially pronounced among ninth-grade girls.
  • Christian Group Warns California ‘Anti-Hate Speech’ Training Law Could Threaten Religious Freedom
    A Christian family advocacy organization is warning that California’s new “anti-hate speech” training requirements could create conflicts for pastors, churches and Christian employees who hold traditional religious beliefs. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1803 last month, requiring California employers with at least five employees to include instruction
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    Christian leaders are divided over plans to livestream the firing-squad execution of Nidal Hasan, the former Army major convicted of killing 13 people and wounding 32 others in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. Hasan, who served as an Army psychiatrist, represented himself during his 2013 military trial, acknowledged carrying out the attack and was sentenced to death.
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  • Pro-Life Groups Reach 3 Million Homes in Key Battlegrounds Ahead of Midterms

    Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and its partner, Women Speak Out PAC, say their canvassers have knocked on more than 3 million doors in competitive states and congressional districts ahead of November’s midterm elections. Student volunteers from more than 100 colleges and universities accounted for 1.4 million of those visits as part of the groups’ broader effort to influence abortion policy and voter turnout.

  • Supreme Court Takes Up Kentucky Catholic Shrine Dispute Over Zoning Rules

    The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review a Kentucky dispute over whether a Catholic organization may construct a Marian shrine on its own property despite objections from nearby residents. The justices will examine a Kentucky Supreme Court decision that ruled against the Missionaries of St. John the Baptist, which operates Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel in Park Hills, near Cincinnati.

  • Justice Samuel Alito Says Dobbs Required “Courage,” Sees Little Chance Same-Sex Marriage Ruling Will Be Reversed

    U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito says the 2022 Dobbs ruling that ended the federal constitutional right to abortion was a case that demanded judicial courage, while predicting that the court is unlikely to overturn its 2015 same-sex marriage decision. Alito made the remarks in an interview with CBS News’ Jan Crawford ahead of the release of his book, *So Ordered: An Originalist’s View of the Constitution*, reflecting on major cases from his two decades on the high court.

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    Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the creation of a new Pentagon Office of Religious Affairs during his “State of the Force” address at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Speaking to junior officers and enlisted leaders, Hegseth said technology, infrastructure and personnel development are not enough without faith, which he described as “the most essential component of our Republic.”

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  • Senators Press Trump to Confront Xi Over Detained Pastors, Religious Minorities

    A bipartisan group of 10 U.S. senators called on President Donald Trump to raise China’s persecution of Christian pastors and other religious minorities during his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington this week. Led by Sens. Ted Budd, R-N.C., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., the lawmakers thanked Trump for diplomatic pressure they said helped secure the July 3 release of Beijing Zion Church founder Ezra Jin after 266 days in detention.

  • DOJ Defends IRS Agreement Limiting Johnson Amendment Enforcement for Churches

    The U.S. Department of Justice is backing Christian organizations and the Internal Revenue Service in an appeal involving a proposed agreement that would limit enforcement of the Johnson Amendment against certain religious groups. The Trump administration filed a brief Monday with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in National Religious Broadcasters et al. v. Scott Bessent et al., a case challenging whether the Internal Revenue Service had authority to submit an agreement in court stating it

  • Trump Highlights Global Christian Persecution at UN, Warns Iran of “Annihilation” Without Deal

    President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to draw attention to the persecution of Christians worldwide, criticizing the U.N. Human Rights Council for giving the issue little attention while condemning some of the world’s most repressive governments. “Christians are being persecuted all over the world; it's not even believable. I never thought I'd say it, but it's been happening for a long time.”
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