Also, a great write-up from @emmillerwrites.bsky.social about Kimberly. 🙌

Kimberly Winston Honored with 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award — Religion News Association By Emily McFarlan Miller There was a time, not that long ago, when there were no journalists reporting on atheism full-time on the religion beat. In fact, nonbelievers were among the “most despise...

Religion reporter Kimberly Winston has long been a kind mentor and friend to me in the years I've gotten to know her at the Religion News Association. Glad we'll be able to honor her this week with the Lifetime Achievement Award. rna.org/news/kimberl...

Inside the Christian lawmaker group behind West Bank naming bill Why did Tennessee rename the West Bank to Judea and Samaria? A former state senator is leading the charge from a six-bedroom mansion in Arkansas.

With the TN legislature passing a bill to rename the "West Bank" to "Judea and Samaria" in state government documents, @vivianejones.bsky.social looks at a faith-based nonprofit founded by an AR state senator that pushed this bill and others like it in red states. www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

'In the name of protecting free expression... students [are banned] from staging walkouts and using oversized signs during campus events.'
'It also offers specific protections for people with certain political beliefs, including opposition to abortion, homosexuality and “transgender behavior”'

Tennessee bans disruptive student walkouts with Charlie Kirk Act In the name of protecting free expression, Tennessee Republicans have effectively barred college students from staging walkouts during campus events.

The TN leg passed a bill bearing Charlie Kirk's name that bans college students from staging walkouts in the middle of an invited speaker's remarks or using signs to block audience members during an invited speaker's appearance. From @vivianejones.bsky.social: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

Update: Tennessee's three Catholic bishops have commented on the latest news about Pope Leo XIV and Trump's posts through a statement from Tennessee Catholic Conference director Rick Musacchio. We've updated the story with their statement. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

Nashville Catholics, more denounce Trump social media attacks on pope Nashville is home to influential conservative Catholic voices. Here's what they and others said about Trump's social media posts about Pope Leo XIV.

Michael Knowles, Candace Owens and Riley Gaines are among influential and locally based voices of faith to react and condemn Trump's latest posts about Leo and depicting himself as Jesus-like (since deleted). My roundup: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

Inbox: Evan Lenow is the new head of the SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission following a unanimous vote by the ERLC trustees for a new permanent head. We wrote about his likely appointment a couple weeks ago: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

Tennessee’s biggest TOSHA fine is still small by federal standards A safety expert says the record $3.1 million state fine for the deadly AES explosion would have been far higher under OSHA's federal penalty scale.

Following our earlier coverage last week of the record TOSHA fine against AES following the explosion that killed 16 people at the TN explosives manufacturing plant, Kelly Puente explains why experts say the penalty should have been more. www.tennessean.com/story/news/l...

Thanks for following along!

For more on the Institute of Christian Statecraft, here’s the pamphlet that was distributed at the event:

Rep. Ogles speaks with Christian nationalist podcasters in Franklin Rep. Andy Ogles, weeks after his controversial remarks about Muslims in the U.S., joined podcasters on "Christians in politics" in Franklin.

On Friday night, I joined an event with Rep. Andy Ogles, William Wolfe, Andrew Isker and Stephen Wolfe, which was to launch a new group called The Institute of Christian Statecraft. It came on the heels of Ogles' recent rhetoric about Muslims: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

Michael Knowles, a Nashville-based podcast host for The Daily Wire and a conservative Catholic, has joined other conservative Catholics and even Protestants in urging Trump to take down the photo depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure.

Christian media adapts as influencers reshape Nashville-based industry With explosion in podcasting and video streaming, Christian media leaders in Nashville are once more at an inflection point.

“Protestants believed it was necessary, just like these podcasters thought it was necessary," Cooper said. "I think it’s going to grow and grow, and probably you’re going to get even more little tribes." www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

Even Cooper has some worries and it’s part of his consideration for reeling back from his podcast more recently. He said the moment reminds him of the Protestant Reformation, which led to further splintering in the church and formation of thousands of denominations.

Christian media adapts as influencers reshape Nashville-based industry With explosion in podcasting and video streaming, Christian media leaders in Nashville are once more at an inflection point.

“Nowadays, I can create something in my garage... There’s been no one along that path who has checked my facts, my scripture references,” Gilreath added. “I think losing that layer of accountability is probably something that’s suffered.” www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

PC: Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean

But the diminishment of gatekeepers also raises new uncertainties.
“Previously the gatekeepers were there for a reason, the labels would vet lyrical content,” Steve Gilreath, executive director of the Museum of Christian & Gospel Music, told me.

Christian media adapts as influencers reshape Nashville-based industry With explosion in podcasting and video streaming, Christian media leaders in Nashville are once more at an inflection point.

As Cooper put it to me: “We’ve gotten rid of the gatekeepers, we don’t need them anymore.”
www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

Christian media adapts as influencers reshape Nashville-based industry With explosion in podcasting and video streaming, Christian media leaders in Nashville are once more at an inflection point.

That earlier turbulence is key to understanding how some institutions that once held the greatest power in Christian media are nonexistent or rebranded (i.e. acquisitions of Christian record labels and closure of Christian bookstores).
www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

PC: Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean

Meanwhile, I visited the adjacent campuses of K-LOVE and Ramsey Solutions – both are investing into podcasting and streaming as they maintain a strong radio presence. It felt like I was at the Christian media brain trust when I visited on a random Wednesday morning.

PC: DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN

So, my story looks at other influencers in addition to John, some of whom trace a similar journey. For example, podcaster Alisa Childers, a former member of Christian girlband ZOEgirl. Meanwhile, Annie F. Downs' story differs in the audience she reaches and when she started.

Christian media adapts as influencers reshape Nashville-based industry With explosion in podcasting and video streaming, Christian media leaders in Nashville are once more at an inflection point.

That same continuity is seen in many other cases of Nashville figures and groups, for some in the substance of what they’re saying and for others the methods by which they’re broadcasting that message. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

After 30 Years, Skillet Rocks On - Christianity Today The veteran band reached alienated youth group teens of the ’90s. Now the kids of their first fans are listening too.

Just as a side note, with Skillet I'd suggest reading
@kkramermcginnis.bsky.social's story from last year: www.christianitytoday.com/2025/01/skil...

Also, for more on @drleahpayne.bsky.social's book: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

Christian media adapts as influencers reshape Nashville-based industry With explosion in podcasting and video streaming, Christian media leaders in Nashville are once more at an inflection point.

"I think of his (Cooper) podcasting and media presence as an extension of the type of music that he did. It’s combative, it’s confrontational. Some people see that as a contradiction, but I see continuity,” @drleahpayne.bsky.social told me. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

Christian media adapts as influencers reshape Nashville-based industry With explosion in podcasting and video streaming, Christian media leaders in Nashville are once more at an inflection point.

John told me his voice as a podcaster (openly political and strongly conservative) is different from the message that Skillet promotes in its music. But there’s also a through-line and that overlap speaks to a broader trend within Christian media. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

PC: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

For this story on the (r)evolution of Christian media, I looked closely at the story of Skillet frontman John Cooper, a podcaster who's become known for outspokenness on politics. Being a close listener of Skillet especially in the 2000s, I was saw interesting trajectory…

Christian media adapts as influencers reshape Nashville-based industry With explosion in podcasting and video streaming, Christian media leaders in Nashville are once more at an inflection point.

This story is one I’ve long wanted to explore amid my observations of local figures and companies (i.e Ramsey, K-LOVE). But I didn’t expect it to lead me to an even older interest of mine: Christian rock and, specifically, Skillet. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

Originating with print publishers and then record labels and now influencers, Nashville has long been at the center of evangelical media power. For a Sunday print feature, I trace how the latest upheaval is transforming some of the most influential leaders in Christian media.

Vanderbilt’s Passover seder turns football field into sacred space Vanderbilt students know the university's football stadium for rowdy and dramatic game moments. For the first time, it was home to a Passover seder.

"We all brought the goalpost and dropped it in the Cumberland River. Now we’re here talking about how Moses led the Jews to the Jordan River...The same way that Diego Pavia has been leading his own team to the promised land.”
Per a seder at FirstBank arena: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

Judge rejects deal that could let churches back political candidates Despite earlier expectations for IRS to allow churches to endorse candidates amid court battle, judge rejects proposal on Johnson Amendment exception.

ICYMI: A lawsuit from the National Religious Broadcasters has sparked a bigger conversation about an IRS policy barring churches from endorsing political candidates. In a surprise ruling, a judge rejected a proposed exception to the policy. www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...