Robert Downen
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robertdownen.bsky.social
Robert Downen
@robertdownen.bsky.social
Texas Monthly writer focused on the far right, Christian nationalism and the billionaires funding them. Helped expose the Southern Baptist abuse crisis. Fan of Hip Hop and loud guitars. Send me music.
Don Huffines, the far-right former lawmaker who is running for Texas Comptroller, just announced a "rare" endorsement from Charlie Kirk.
January 22, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Watching the Nathan For You finale again
January 22, 2026 at 2:04 AM
On Tuesday, CAIR National also filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the California Dept. of Corrections is not giving incarcerated Muslims access for their five daily prayers.
January 20, 2026 at 9:11 PM
Occasional reminder that Joe Lonsdale recently bragged about co-founding Palantir to cleanse the western hemisphere of communists — a term which, per this Politico piece, he defines extremely broadly.
January 16, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Texas Public Policy Foundation, the right-wing think tank closely tied to the Heritage Foundation and Trump admin, is hosting an event later this month on CAIR, Muslim Brotherhood and aversaries to "Western values." Two state reps - including 10 Commandments bill author Candy Noble - are panelists.
January 13, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Roughly 8 in 10 Americans that ICE is baselessly arresting or deporting U.S. citizens. Wasn't long ago that the Trump admin was going after ProPublica and other outlets for reporting this.
January 13, 2026 at 1:08 AM
Two months after Gov. Greg Abbott designated CAIR a foreign terrorist org and moved to strip its tax-exempt status, Attorney General Ken Paxton claims that CAIR's Austin and Dallas chapters can't sue over Abbott's moves because he wasn't actually talking about them, just the national folks
January 12, 2026 at 7:45 PM
BONGINO: "I'm Back."
January 12, 2026 at 7:09 PM
On ICE tactics:

-51% say too forceful
-27% say about right
-10% say not forceful enough

Poll was conducted yesterday. Will be interesting to see if/how much these fluctuate.
January 9, 2026 at 1:05 AM
In Texas - and, increasingly, in other statehouses - Barton's theories have been central to efforts to put more Christianity in public schools and spaces by claiming that the Ten Commandments and Bible are foundational to American society and history.
January 7, 2026 at 7:11 PM
David Barton, the self-described "amateur historian" whose debunked work has been central to mainstreaming claims that the US was founded as a Christian nation, says he and his son have been directly involved in the Trump administration's efforts to stop "woke propaganda" at the Smithsonian.
January 7, 2026 at 6:59 PM
On how COVID polarized churches:

www.texasmonthly.com/news-politic...
January 5, 2026 at 6:49 PM
It is really hard to overstate the effects of COVID-related church restrictions and closures, both in terms of politicizing once-political churches and pushing countless Americans into the depths of a radical, conspiracy theory rabbit hole.

Exhibit ♾️:
January 5, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale on blowing up “commies” and their gravesites: “Exactly. What do you think founding Palantir was supposed to be about?”
January 5, 2026 at 5:35 PM
In a promo video released by MercyCulture, they note that the first person to sign their guest book was Dutch Sheets, the New Apostolic Reformation pastor whose sermons and prophesies played a crucial role in mobilizing people to DC on Jan 6.
January 5, 2026 at 3:42 PM
MercyCulture, the Christian nationalist church network in Texas that often flirts with QAnon, just opened a prayer house across from the Supreme Court. Among their prayer board items: Ending human trafficking and for Trump to be "baptized in the Holy Spirit."
January 5, 2026 at 3:39 PM
More from Austin
January 4, 2026 at 8:13 PM
More from Austin
January 4, 2026 at 7:48 PM
January 4, 2026 at 7:27 PM
A few hundred people at Austin City Hall protesting against US military action in Venezuela
January 4, 2026 at 7:12 PM
This photo rules on so many levels
January 4, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Watching an all-time classic live on ESPN Ocho right now
December 26, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Great student reporting on why the Harvard Salient, revived to combat what leaders saw as a decline in “contrarian” thought, was abruptly closed earlier this year. (Hint: It was racism). www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
December 21, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Machine Gun Kelly shows off new Epstein files tattoo
December 19, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Worth resharing, as Trump continues his "invasion" rhetoric, that one of the people who helped mainstream it as a legal theory is a Texas county attorney who leaders of the Texas secessionists say is a policy advisor to their movement.
December 18, 2025 at 2:21 AM