For instance, we firmly believe that churches and other places of worship shouldn’t be allowed as tax-exempt entities to engage in open electioneering. The globally renowned British news outlet The Guardian has recently taken note.

“The Freedom from Religion Foundation, a nonprofit focused on the separation of church and state, later filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over Legacy’s involvement in the 2022 election,” an article a couple of days ago in the paper notes about the action we took against a New Mexico megachurch’s blatant politicking.

In fact, we are challenging a Texas pastor’s claim that our attempts to enforce federal electioneering restrictions amount to intimidation tactics. The accusations come two years after we filed an IRS complaint over a 2024 sermon, “How to Vote Like Jesus,” in which he appeared to encourage congregants to support Donald Trump over Kamala Harris.

“FFRF is not attempting to intimidate pastors into silence,” note FFRF Co-Presidents Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor. “It is asking the federal government to enforce a 70-year-old law that prevents tax-exempt groups from becoming political operatives and that applies equally to religious and secular nonprofits.”

We’ve halted a Ky. school’s devotional events
On another front, we have stopped a Kentucky public elementary school from sponsoring devotional events. Just two days after receiving FFRF’s complaint letter, the school district responded with a renewed commitment to students’ rights. We are commending the Pike County Schools system for its prompt and unequivocal response.

Arkansas school revamps image after our intervention

We have also successfully persuaded an Arkansas public elementary school to replace a divisive Christian display with a far more welcoming message. The change came after a concerned community member contacted us about the original display, which had been featured on the school’s official Facebook page. The result of FFRF’s intervention is a dramatic improvement, which celebrates the constitutional ideals of equality and unity rather than tying American identity to religious belief.

Pentagon needs to get rid of Christian nationalism

We are decrying the growing influence of Christian nationalism at the Pentagon following disturbing revelations about a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. A new CNN investigation reveals that Ryan Higgins, Hegseth’s senior adviser on religious matters, has spent years promoting conspiracy theories, spreading racist and homophobic rhetoric and openly rejecting the separation of church and state. We are insisting on congressional scrutiny of Hegseth, the new Office of Religious Affairs and Higgins’ role in promoting religious favoritism and coercion in the military.

Catholic settlement reveals seriousness of child abuse issue
And we are calling attention to yet another staggering settlement involving sexual abuse by Catholic clergy. The Archdiocese of New York has agreed to an $800 million settlement with approximately 1,300 survivors who say they were sexually abused by clergy. Such financial settlements, while significant, cannot erase the institutional failures that allowed clergy sexual abuse to persist for generations.

We disbursed $15,450 to grad student essay winners

We proudly awarded $15,450 to the top 10 winners of the 2026 Cornelius Vander Broek Graduate/Older Student Essay Competition. Students were asked to write on the prompt: “Why the 250-year-old United States of America is not a Christian nation.” Congratulations to all the winners!

Atheist show host has had it

The centerpiece of our Freethought Radio show this week is atheist Jennifer Welch, host of the popular “I’ve Had It!” show, telling the audience at our recent annual convention exactly what motivates theocrats — and how to combat them. Take a listen. And you can watch here her speech at the convention, as well as remarks by other speakers.

Latest ‘Secular Spotlight’ episode discusses nontheistic Satanism

The latest episode of our YouTube series “Secular Spotlight” welcomes back Taylor “The Antibot” Leigh to discuss her nontheistic satanic lifestyle. Leigh explains what led her to nontheistic Satanism and the value of secular rituals. “Satan, for me, symbolizes freedom, intellectualism [and] living authentically,” Leigh explains.

How to organize your time without religion

In the latest “Underzealous” episode, Rowan and Tuesday discuss how to embrace seasonality and structured celebration throughout the year without a religion instructing you on how to celebrate holidays.

‘We Dissent’ podcast dissects Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission
The hosts of the “We Dissent” podcast take a look in its brand new episode at a disturbing aspect of the Trump administration’s Religious Liberty Commission. FFRF Deputy Legal Director Liz Cavell, Americans United for Separation of Church and State Legal Director Rebecca Markert and National Women’s Law Center Director of Nominations & Democracy Alison Gill explain how the commission and its new report fit into the administration’s broader effort to push a Christian nationalist narrative that redefines religious liberty to advance Christian supremacy. 

How protests are rocking India’s Hindu nationalist government
I interviewed for my global affairs community radio show writer, researcher and educator Sukumar Muralidharan on the recent protests over alleged electoral manipulation that have intensely challenged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government. Muralidharan offered from India a very informative firsthand perspective.

‘Theocrat’ bishops pray over Trump

Our legislative affiliate, the FFRF Action Fund, has chosen as its “Theocrats of the Week” 12 bishops who recently prayed over President Trump in the Oval Office. It urges the participating Catholic prelates to consider the nature, timing and possible implications of future White House meetings before attending. Churches should not endorse, or bolster, political parties and candidates. 

Fresh poll shows importance of freethinking voters
The FFRF Action Fund is highlighting new polling underscoring the growing political importance of secular voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The findings emphasize the need for political leaders to recognize secular Americans, who at nearly a third of the adult population, outnumber any single Christian sect, including Christian nationalist-favoring evangelicals, as an increasingly consequential voting constituency.

Justice Thomas’ mistaken perspective
FFRF Legal Intern Emma Hanson points out in a recent write-up a quirky perspective that the longest-serving justice on the U.S. Supreme Court holds. “State governments cannot constitutionally establish an official religion, but Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas believes that they should be able to,” her piece begins. Read more of her column to find out the deleterious consequences of such a viewpoint.

Why our conventions energize us

FFRF Staff Attorney and photographer Chris Line shares in his latest blog his joyous experience of being there at our recent convention — especially interacting with the young attendees. 

“After another year of difficult battles over religious freedom and the separation of church and state, I left Milwaukee feeling something we could all use a little more of,” Chris concludes. “Hope for the future.”

Whether it is at our convention or in our legal battles, we draw our energies from you.