Glass City Humanist

We give an after-action report on our American Empathy Project sponsored by a grant from the American Humanist Association. Douglas took the lead on this project and he recounts his project anxiety and lack of logistical awareness. He didn't realize what moving 400 plus cans of food really meant. We had to dial back our goal of 100 kits on the day of the event and completed 50 kits in less than an hour.Another freethinking celebrity, Bill Maher, took his podcast guest, comedian David Cross to task for Cross' daughter having Trans friends. Maher repeated many transphobic myths like he was a member of Turning Point USA. We listen to a segment from Sam Seder of Majority Report about the interview and we agree how Maher’s skepticism reflects a disregard for the lived realities of many. It is crucial to highlight that listening to and validating children's identities is not an agenda; instead, it is an essential aspect of affirming their dignity and well-being. Finally we try to unpack the US Supreme Court case Louisiana v. Calais that finally gutted the last bit of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Many southern states with history of racial voter suppression are trying to quickly redraw their voting maps to eliminate as many Democrat held seats as possible before the midterm election in November. We connect the historical context of voting rights with contemporary struggles against systemic racism, illustrating how far we still need to go in achieving electoral equity. 01:00 Our American Empathy Project After-Action Report12:31 Children Trigger Bill Maher27:09 Waving Voting Rights Good ByeFull show notes & links usedSubscribe to our free newsletterCheck Out our Merch

We discuss the pressing themes of humanism and empathy as we prepare for the American Empathy Project, an initiative aimed at combating the widespread cruelty currently proliferating across our nation. We discuss how this project, set to launch on May 2nd, provides a platform for community service projects funded through $100,000 in grants by the American Humanist Association. These projects embody the essence of compassion and collective action in the face of adversity.In more positive news, Virginia's recent legislation aimed at dismantling historical racial injustices by eliminating taxpayer subsidies for Confederate organizations reflects a broader movement towards acknowledging and rectifying past discriminations.Finally we look at the recent fight President Trump started with Pope Leo over the latter's criticism of the stupid "war" the US is waging against Iran. We look at the backlash faced by Pope Leo in response to his criticisms of the Trump administration and the broader implications this has for the Catholic community, especially as it relates to empathy in political discourse. Trump needs catholic voters more than they need him.Full Show Notes & Links UsedSubscribe to our free newsletterCheck out our Merch

We start this episode talking about the SAVE Act currently being debated in the Congress and how it is meant to make voter registration and voting harder for those who will have trouble getting the higher level of documentation needed to be eligible.We rebuke the narrative that the act is needed to stop the flood of undocumented people voting since there is not a flood as the data has shown and the SAVE Act itself will do far more damage to our democracy, and affecting our elections, than a small random number of people who are not eligible to vote.Douglas draws on his experience as a precinct poll worker to rebut the argument that requiring a photo ID is better than the current comparison of signatures in a poll book. How would a poll worker know the ID being used is real?Then we shift focus to yet another proposed anti-LGBTQ bill, notably Ohio House Bill 249, which seeks to criminalize drag performances, especially in the presence of minors. We express our disappointment not just in the law itself but in the surprising support of such a bill from two members of marginalized groups who are the ones who introduced the bill. The episode brings to light the troubling reality where individuals from historically oppressed communities are complicit in the persecution of others, invoking religious justifications that distract from the essence of human rights and dignity.Finally we show a compelling clip from Amanda of Yesterqueers, who connects the proliferation of anti-LGBTQ legislation, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and the SAVE Act. This connection emphasizes the broader context of how marginalized communities are often pitted against each other in cultural wars, which serve to distract from more pressing socioeconomic issues. Drawing these connections reveals a disturbing trend where the struggles of LGBTQ individuals, particularly trans people and drag performers, are framed as threats to societal norms, rather than highlighting their right to express and exist free from harassment.Full show notes & links usedSubscribe to our free newsletterCheck out our MerchDonate to support the show

Our guest is Dr. Jerry Jaffe, a Toledo native and professional stand up comic who has written a book titled "Religious Satire in the Era of New Atheism" He will introduce you to some of the ideas and examples from his research. Focused on the context of the post-9/11 American culture phenomenon, sometimes referred to as the New Atheism – as embodied by public intellectuals such as Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, and Richard Dawkins – Dr, Jaffe documents the rise of comedic satire in relation to evangelical beliefs and religious dogma. Drawing on the author’s own experience of stand-up performance, he examines the comedy of figures such as Mark Maron, Bill Maher, and Ricky Gervais and presents material from interviews with comedians including Lewis Black, John Fugelsang, and Leigh Ann Lord.We also discuss the tarnishing of New Atheism because several members turned out to be problematic individuals with some holding transphobic views and others being accused of islamophobia.Dr. Jaffe discusses islamophobia in comedy and how it is better to 'punch up' rather than 'punch down'. He also argues that many comics in the US don't satire Islam because comedy works when it is relatable to the audience. He also explains it is better to make fun of the powers that be in a religion rather than the adherents.01:00 Origin of a comedian14:00 Personal favorite part of the book19:38 The fall of New Atheism31:16 Why don't we make fun of Islam?41:28 Future writing plansFull show notes & links usedSubscribe to our free newsletterCheck out our MerchDonate to our Podcast fund

We start out by looking at the critical topic of empathy within the current socio-political landscape, highlighting the troubling viewpoint expressed by some Christian nationalists who deem empathy as a weakness or even a sin. This discussion is especially topical as we witness the harsh realities of our out-of-control government, where political gain often leads to the suffering and even death in vulnerable communities. The American Humanist Association is combating this trend by launching The American Empathy Project aimed at promoting empathy, which happens to be an essential humanist value.Offering $100,000 in grants, The American Empathy Project encourages groups across the nation to create activities centered around themes like care for the marginalized, environmental conservation, and affirming the rights of vulnerable populations. We outline various project ideas that participants can engage in while emphasizing that empathy, far from being a liability, is a crucial asset for societal progress.We transition to the various serious topic of the connection of public figures including those in the atheist and freethought movement with the convicted child sex trafficker Jeffery Epstein. These connections are proven with the release of many photos and emails in the Epstein criminal files held by the US Department of Justice.Epstein had a personal or donor relationship with people like Lawrence Kraus, Steven Pinker, and Richard Dawkins and these men tended to mimic views about women that Epstein was known to express.Content creator Rebecca Watson also details her appearance in the Epstein files and how that is related to the cancer of Misogyny that still infects the freethought community. She relates the dumpster fire that was the introductory speech by former Center for Inquiry CEO Ronald Lindsay at the Women in Secularism Conference in 2013. Lindsay is also in the Epstein files - naturally.01:00 The American Empathy Project20:54 Does Humanism Have A Jeffery Epstein Problem?Full show notes & links usedSubscribe to our free newsletterCheck out our swag