Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Robert P. Jones @robertpjones.bsky.social · 14h

The High Holidays have made me realize how difficult it is to know when we’ve passed from one thing into another. We are categorical creatures in a continuous world.
The new Bright Line Watch survey shows U.S. has slipped from the real of liberal democracy.
robertpjones.substack.com/p/all-the-br...

All the Bright Lines Behind Us

There is still time to act before the darkness fully overtakes us.

robertpjones.substack.com

1 1 14

Robert P. Jones @robertpjones.bsky.social · 1d

My latest, a reflection on the plummeting ratings of the US as a liberal democracy, written in the context of observing the Jewish High Holidays as a Christian spouse of a Jewish partner.
www.whitetoolong.net/p/all-the-br...

All the Bright Lines Behind Us

There is still time to act before the darkness fully overtakes us.

www.whitetoolong.net

3 20

Robert P. Jones @robertpjones.bsky.social · 2d

My latest: Experts’ rating of U.S. as a democracy in newest Bright Line Watch Survey fell from 67 out of 100 before the 2024 election to 55 in Feb and to 54 in Sep. Experts also now project that the U.S. democracy rating will drop further to 47 by 2027.
www.whitetoolong.net/p/all-the-br...

All the Bright Lines Behind Us

There is still time to act before the darkness fully overtakes us.

www.whitetoolong.net

1 6 9

Reposted by Robert P. Jones

Robert David Sullivan @robertdsullivan.bsky.social · 3d

"our current rating of 54 puts the U.S. below experts’ ratings of democracy in Mexico and Poland; the projected rating of 47 puts the U.S. on par with experts’ current rating of Israel and in the neighborhood of experts’ 2022 ratings of Brazil and the Philippines."

Robert P. Jones @robertpjones.bsky.social · 4d

I highlight findings from the latest Bright Line Watch Survey on democracy in my latest post. Under the Trump presidency, the US is no longer ranked as a liberal democracy such as the UK or Canada.
www.whitetoolong.net/p/all-the-br...

All the Bright Lines Behind Us

There is still time to act before the darkness fully overtakes us.

www.whitetoolong.net

3 1 16

Reposted by Robert P. Jones

Robert P. Jones @robertpjones.bsky.social · 4d

I highlight findings from the latest Bright Line Watch Survey on democracy in my latest post. Under the Trump presidency, the US is no longer ranked as a liberal democracy such as the UK or Canada.
www.whitetoolong.net/p/all-the-br...

All the Bright Lines Behind Us

There is still time to act before the darkness fully overtakes us.

www.whitetoolong.net

6 23 52

Robert P. Jones @robertpjones.bsky.social · 4d

I highlight findings from the latest Bright Line Watch Survey on democracy in my latest post. Under the Trump presidency, the US is no longer ranked as a liberal democracy such as the UK or Canada.
www.whitetoolong.net/p/all-the-br...

All the Bright Lines Behind Us

There is still time to act before the darkness fully overtakes us.

www.whitetoolong.net

6 23 52

Robert P. Jones @robertpjones.bsky.social · 4d

My latest, All the Bright Lines Behind Us. A new “Bright Lines Watch” survey finds we are already living in a mixed or illiberal democracy.

www.whitetoolong.net/p/all-the-br...

All the Bright Lines Behind Us

There is still time to act before the darkness fully overtakes us.

www.whitetoolong.net

1 4 11

Robert P. Jones @robertpjones.bsky.social · 14d

I had the honor of joining Dr. Obery Hendricks & Rev. LaKesha Womack on The Politics of Jesus Podcast to talk about the deep racial divisions that remain in American churches.You can tune in here: bit.ly/politicsofjesuspodcastjones
#PoliticsOfJesus #RobertJones #FaithAndJustice

Spotify – Web Player

bit.ly

1 6

Reposted by Robert P. Jones

Word&Way @wordandway.bsky.social · 19d

Our fresh news roundup features insights from @adellembanks.bsky.social, @bmietana.bsky.social, @jarvisdeberry.bsky.social, @kaylaguo.bsky.social, @angeladenker.bsky.social, @robertpjones.bsky.social, @raushenbush.bsky.social, @jbarnett.bsky.social, @michelleboorstein.bsky.social, and more!

Weekly Roundup: Sept. 19

Here’s the weekly roundup from A Public Witness. In addition to a report on a conference advocating for religious liberty in public schools that is free for anyone to read, paid subscribers to A Publi...

publicwitness.wordandway.org

1 3 2

Reposted by Robert P. Jones

Robert P. Jones @robertpjones.bsky.social · 22d

My latest, featuring a conversation between me, @angeladenker.bsky.social and Samuel Freedman on the manifestations and threat of white Christian nationalism in our current moment.
open.substack.com/pub/robertpj...

It Can and Is Happening Here

Watch our discussion of "The Rise of Christian Nationalism" at the Cap Times Idea Fest.

open.substack.com

4 10 49

Reposted by Robert P. Jones

gracejisunkim.bsky.social @gracejisunkim.bsky.social · Sep 7

Listen to @robertpjones.bsky.social on Madang Podcast and read his book

@prri.org

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM3T...

Madang Podcast: Robert P. Jones, Ep. 32

YouTube video by Grace Ji-Sun Kim

www.youtube.com

1 1

Reposted by Robert P. Jones

PRRI @prri.org · 23d

Discussing the Christian nationalism movement, PRRI President and Founder @robertpjones.bsky.social states, “This movement teaches a God-ordained hierarchy: men over women, parents over children, white over non-white, American over non-American … and that hierarchy exerts a strong pull.”

Angela Denker, Robert Jones warn of Christian nationalism’s grip

The veteran journalist and the Public Religion Research Institute founder discussed ways to respond to the theocratic movement at Cap Times Idea Fest.

captimes.com

5 17 42

Reposted by Robert P. Jones

D'Argento Alexandro @dargentoalexandro.bsky.social · 22d

If you're bored with me sharing that link about Dominionism 101, there are a lot of other informed contemporary voices about the deep vein of White Christian Nationalism in the United States.

For example: Robert P. Jones! @robertpjones.bsky.social

Robert P. Jones @robertpjones.bsky.social · 22d

My latest, featuring a conversation between me, @angeladenker.bsky.social and Samuel Freedman on the manifestations and threat of white Christian nationalism in our current moment.
open.substack.com/pub/robertpj...

It Can and Is Happening Here

Watch our discussion of "The Rise of Christian Nationalism" at the Cap Times Idea Fest.

open.substack.com

2 6

Robert P. Jones @robertpjones.bsky.social · 22d

My latest, featuring a conversation between me, @angeladenker.bsky.social and Samuel Freedman on the manifestations and threat of white Christian nationalism in our current moment.
open.substack.com/pub/robertpj...

It Can and Is Happening Here

Watch our discussion of "The Rise of Christian Nationalism" at the Cap Times Idea Fest.

open.substack.com

4 10 49

Reposted by Robert P. Jones

Robert P. Jones @robertpjones.bsky.social · Aug 29

My latest—amid all the bad news, highlighting the inspiring Indie bookstores fighting back against book bans, refusing to be cogs in the Trump regime’s anti-immigrant machine. With links to support them.
If you've got an Indie bookstore story, share below!
open.substack.com/pub/robertpj...

Indie Bookstores Fighting Back

Plus, 25% off annual subscriptions through Labor Day.

open.substack.com

9 24

Robert P. Jones @robertpjones.bsky.social · Aug 29

My latest—amid all the bad news, highlighting the inspiring Indie bookstores fighting back against book bans, refusing to be cogs in the Trump regime’s anti-immigrant machine. With links to support them.
If you've got an Indie bookstore story, share below!
open.substack.com/pub/robertpj...

Indie Bookstores Fighting Back

Plus, 25% off annual subscriptions through Labor Day.

open.substack.com

9 24

Reposted by Robert P. Jones

PRRI @prri.org · Aug 26

- 43% of all Americans score high on the Right-Wing Authoritarianism Scale (RWAS)
- 67% of Republicans score high on the RWAS
- 75% of Republicans w/ favorable views of Trump score high on the RWAS

1 13 9

Reposted by Robert P. Jones

PRRI @prri.org · Aug 26

On Monday, President Trump said that he thinks Americans may like a “dictator,” though he wouldn’t describe himself as one.
PRRI finds that 52% of Americans agree with the statement, “President Trump is a dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys American democracy.”

Trump Suggests Americans Open to a ‘Dictator’

Trump added that he wouldn’t describe himself as a dictator.

time.com

7 11

Reposted by Robert P. Jones

PRRI @prri.org · Aug 26

In PRRI polling conducted after the start of President Trump’s second term, a majority (52%) of Americans agree that “President Trump is a dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys American democracy.”

1 8 14

Reposted by Robert P. Jones

Peter Baker @peterbakernyt.bsky.social · Aug 25

Days after FBI agents raided Bolton's home, Trump threatens to use government power against another critic, suggesting that he would open a new investigation into Chris Christie in response to criticism on television earlier in the day. truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...

Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)

I just watched Sloppy Chris Christie be interviewed on a ratings challenged “News” Show, “This Week With George Slopadopolus,” on ABC Fake News (By the way, what the “hell” happened to Jonathan Karl’s...

truthsocial.com

36 61 190

Reposted by Robert P. Jones

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · Aug 23

Lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who has been released, have been informed by ICE that he could now be subject to deportation to Uganda, and he's been told to report to ICE next week, a source confirms to me.

A few points about this, because there will be a lot of bullshit about it. 1/

80 880 2.4K

Robert P. Jones @robertpjones.bsky.social · Aug 23

Haven’t dug into this yet but disturbing news that Bluesky is suddenly not available in my home state of Mississippi as of today.

Bluesky @bsky.app · Aug 22

Unfortunately, Bluesky is unavailable in Mississippi right now, due to a new state law that requires age verification for all users.

While intended for child safety, we think this law poses broader challenges & creates significant barriers that limit free speech & harm smaller platforms like ours.

19 35 150

Robert P. Jones @robertpjones.bsky.social · Aug 19

My hometown of Jackson, MS, has highest murder rate in the US. Yet MS Gov Reeves is deploying troops cross country to participate in Trump's authoritarian #DCtakeover political theatre, while doing little to solve violent crime epidemic plaguing his own city's citizens.
www.wlbt.com/2025/01/04/j...

Jackson’s homicides drop for third straight year, but rate of killings remains highest in the U.S.

Since 2021, Jackson’s homicide numbers have dropped each year for three years straight.

www.wlbt.com

1 16 35

Reposted by Robert P. Jones

Robert P. Jones @robertpjones.bsky.social · Aug 15

Check out my missive from the behind the lines of the #DCtakeover.
We should all be clear-eyed about this: The militarized occupation of LA and DC are dress rehearsals for a broader plan, coming soon to a city near you.
robertpjones.substack.com/p/postcards-...

Postcards from Occupied D.C.

"Lock the doors, kids."

robertpjones.substack.com

2 23 51

Reposted by Robert P. Jones

Anna Merlan @annamerlan.bsky.social · Aug 15

The official voice of the U.S. government draws from 4chan trolls, explicitly white nationalist phrases and talking points, and radicalizing, dehumanizing, desensitizing language for its targets. I talked to propaganda experts about what it’s doing to us:
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

The official voice of the US government Is cruel, gross, and weird. What is that doing to us?

Joking memes about imprisonment, deportation, and death by alligator are designed to radicalize and desensitize.

www.motherjones.com

23 580 1.3K