Thanks, @timmiller.bsky.social and @wajali.bsky.social, for doing your homework. More: I did this reporting almost five years ago and there is such a soup of nonsense coming out of Wilson that the abuse often gets missed.
www.vice.com/en/article/i...
It's almost like you can't just repeat the world "bromide" over and over and pretend it is sound debate. Being exposed for his incoherence and failed morality on an international stage... about time.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FNU...
Stevens to RFK Jr: "To top it off, Mr Secretary, I got a copy of HR-944. You know what it is? It's your impeachment articles, sir. You have abused your office, you have gutted America's public health! You should be ashamed."
There is definitely some withdrawal from and distrust of institutions generally (for good reason for many). And like you said, these shifts aren't necessarily permanent. Two sources in the book went back to church, but a lot who had quit had periods where they quit, went back, quit again.
No problem venting. I'm grateful to run across someone who cares about this too!
There is also still stigma in calling oneself an atheist (my atheist sources were especially hesitant to use full names in the book). At least in the older social surveys, (and in this case I saw it) women were more sensitive to social stigma. It can just be easier to say "nothing in particular."
There are also the folks who aren't captured as "nones" who are spiritual but not religious, so some who disaffiliate land here, but have any of a number of beliefs (and are predominated by women).
I parsed through some of this in the book. There are big differences between the politics, say, of nothing in particulars (which can include a mix) and atheists and agnostics who are really progressive. On education, atheists and agnostics have more higher education.
AI-age info warfare is more dangerous than it appears. That slopaganda Titanic video is made by a company that sells apparel w/ antisemitic slogans. Iran's government is a customer of the company making those LEGO videos. Trump's deep fakes set this stage. sarahstankorb.substack.com/p/of-idols-a...
My book, Damned If She Does, explores all this, the reasons women have and are leaving, and indicators for what this means for the future of religion. www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...
Two other key points: the highest rates of religion remain among 65+ and drop steeply with younger groups. We inherit religion from our mothers. If young women are saying no, they won't replace their grandmothers nor bring their kids. AND high concentrations of Republican men will repel most.
I am no psychic, but I predict a thousand stories celebrating young, white, conservative men leading a revival (that PRRI's data shows is not happening on a national scale), and many will miss what is going on with younger women, how political polarization is connected to religious bifurcation...
Younger women, also more progressive, are leaning away, rather than into the church. Historically women are more religious than men, but among younger Americans, the gender gap has flipped. If you look back at @prri.org's data, you'll see that young women of color are leading in disaffiliation.
Before you get too excited, according to Gallup, there is an uptick in young Republican men and women's attendance (Dem leaning men's attendance has declined). Among younger women MUCH fewer are Republican, so even a modest increase there is offset by the real story...
Today, @gallup.com released its most recent data... and already I'm seeing headlines announcing "revival" which... ugh. So, there is an increase in reported importance of religion among younger men, specifically young Republican men. news.gallup.com/poll/708410/...
What a week of rich data! Yesterday, PRRI released its religious census data, which showed, overall, a pretty stagnant picture of religious identification and disaffiliation. Except, among women under 30. @bmietana.bsky.social did a great job summarizing the survey. religionnews.com/2026/04/15/s...
Hungary's election is a reminder that no matter how much a dictator rigs the system, there's no defense against nearly 80% of voters showing up…
Remember that.
From Trump meme coins (generating $320 million) that seem a lot like a ticket to presidential access, to the Trump boys' drone maker companies seeking access to Pentagon contracts @bernardcondon.bsky.social's reporting on Trump fam's money-making this term is staggering.
apnews.com/article/trum...
So lovely that people are still finding Disobedient Women. Sadly, it is relevant as ever.
Moving from those who resisted to those who left, Damned If She Does is out Sept 15. I am so excited to share more stories with all of you!
Thank you for reading! My next one is out in September!
Wow, *I* didn't even think of this in relation to what is going on. So, so much dread, it has become a constant.
I petitioned to START our high school drama club, so I guess that makes me a self-made theater kid.
I just can't with Joel Webbon. I have covered so many, too many self described Christian nationalists and patriarchs, and I guess he is where the last bubble of patience in my brain pops.
sarahstankorb.substack.com/p/the-story-...
Who else's middle schooler came home heartbroken because their friends learned about the SCOTUS birthright case, and while they have all already been worried for their friends' parents are now worried for their friends?
I really, really want to live in a country where kids don't need to be scared.
Thinking back to the 2024 election, I think we can see how anti-trans sentient is being weaponized politically, and as ever, religion is folded right into all of this.
Young, Republican men are growing more resistant to LGBTQ rights (more than Republican senior citizens). Portions of those who say they support trans rights do NOT oppose laws that would limit some trans people's rights.
Today is #transdayofvisibility and @prripoll has some data that is timely and provides a worrying snapshot into how Americans' views are shifting.
sarahstankorb.substack.com/p/attitudes-...
Image with the banner GIVEAWAY, with 15 books published by Hachette Book Group.
Those of you on Instagram, @hachetteus is having a Women's History Month giveaway, including Disobedient Women! Jump to their Instagram account for details.
I was just helping my kid with their high school Gov homework, and was astonished to learn the United States has a Congress.
That’s an excellent question.
