A group of uniformed troops walk along the National Mall, with the Washington Monument and the Capitol in the background. A headline reads: "Crime Festers in Republican States While Their Troops Patrol Washington." Photo by Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

Republican governors have sent National Guard troops to Democratic-led Washington, D.C., even though cities in their states all have higher rates of violent crime than the nation’s capital. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/u...

An update from our world - the speed of things, wonderful advice from someone who's been there, and dogs in the hospital. CaringBridge link below. Thanks so much for your prayers and support. www.caringbridge.org/site/af5cd20...

Quite literally, our government has become the very thing that Jesus and the prophets spent lifetimes railing against.

#NoKingsInAmerica

The effects of the “big beautiful bill” currently before the Senate impact many people in many different ways. Here’s how it’s impacting mine. If you hate cancer as much as I do, you cannot support the bill in its current fashion. Please educate yourself and call your representatives in Congress.

Donate to Support Lorie's fight against pancreatic cancer, organized by Steve Lindsley On April 1st, 2025, we received devastating news: Lorie has pancreatic … Steve Lindsley needs your support for Support Lorie's fight against pancreatic cancer

We continue on our journey. Know that your generosity helps with things in-home care, acupuncture and other non-traditional treatments, and other medical expenses not covered by insurance. Thank you! gofund.me/da605c19

Who is the new Pope Leo XIV and what are his views? Pope Leo XIV was born and raised in Chicago. He is of French, Italian and Spanish descent. He spent years working as a missionary in Peru.

Pope Leo XIV was born and raised in Chicago. He is of French, Italian and Spanish descent. He spent years working as a missionary in Peru.

Working lots of things at the moment, but I'll say this: Several experts I've spoken to see the elevation of Pope Leo XIV — the first U.S. pope — as a de facto rebuke of Trump or, perhaps more accurately, of the broader global political trends he represents.

More in a bit.

I think my favorite thing about the new pope so far are his previous tweets taking JD Vance to the mat on his insanely flawed theology.

Hey all - here's the latest from our world. In Lorie's own words, it's been a roller coaster week. Thank you so, so much for riding alongside us.

www.caringbridge.org/site/af5cd20...

Rev. Barber, surrounded by police, praying in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

Rev. Barber, surrounded by police, praying in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

BREAKING: Police just surrounded Rev. William Barber, prominent activist and pastor, as he and others prayed in the U.S. Capitol Rontunda.

Police then expelled everyone (including press!) from the Rotunda to (presumably) arrest them.

I've covered protests here a lot. Never seen anything like it.

Donate to Support Lorie's fight against pancreatic cancer, organized by Steve Lindsley On April 1st, 2025, we received devastating news: Lorie has pancreatic … Steve Lindsley needs your support for Support Lorie's fight against pancreatic cancer

Thanks so much for your support! ❤️ gofund.me/81bc8138

In Dan we trust. #Panthers

At her insistence that I keep the gig (and my insistence that she has someone here while I’m gigging), I’ll be playing some tunes this evening at Oaklore Distilling Company in nearby Matthews, starting at 6pm. Expect the normal mix of songs, although the tip jar will take on a different look.

CaringBridge Help ensure no one goes through a health journey alone.

So a lot has happened in my world this past week. Sharing this so you can catch up on the news about my wife. If you’re so inclined, there’s a link to a GoFundMe. We’re grateful for the love & support of so many. Thank you! www.caringbridge.org/site/af5cd20...

Let’s be clear: if an arsonist sets a house on fire, he is not a hero if he later puts the fire out.

I picked a good time (two weeks ago) to get a subscription to The Atlantic. Sheesh….

Love that bottle!

When the @presoutlook.bsky.social gets banned…. 😞

He 👏🏻 does 👏🏻 not 👏🏻 care 👏🏻 that 👏🏻 you’re 👏🏻 paying 👏🏻 more 👏🏻 for 👏🏻 eggs.

Happy to share that I am now a Working Genius Certified Facilitator! Would love to work with your team to enhance productivity and foster greater professional fulfillment for each individual.

“Wonder is a liberation practice.”

Don’t think for a moment this “just happened.” Invite Zelenskyy under the pretense of an amicable meeting, facilitate it devolving into a shouting match. Now the US can position it as “on them” and lean even further into Putin, which has been the end game all along.

A grassroots movement is calling on all Americans to abstain from shopping with major retailers tomorrow, February 28, as part of an “economic blackout.”

I encourage you to join. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/boycott

“Bad ideas do a lot of the work of building autocracy. By forcing us to engage with them, they make our conversations, our media and our society dumber - (plunging) us into an anxious state in which thinking is difficult. That kind of anxiety is key to totalitarian control.”

Need some good news?

Need an example of the church actually being the church?

You’re welcome. @pcusa.bsky.social

From a friend:

This is probably not what Arab Americans For Trump had in mind when they organized and cast their votes accordingly.