This week, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is joined by a panel of faith leaders, legal experts, and policymakers to discuss the urgent threats facing democracy and religious freedom under the Trump administration.
Together, they explore how faith communities can take action against executive overreach, attacks on religious institutions, and efforts to dismantle critical government programs.
Here’s the complete list of speakers:
- Jamie Raskin – United States Congressman, MD-08
- Skye Perryman – President and CEO, Democracy Forward
- Adam Nicholas Phillips – Chief Strategy Officer & Chief of Staff, Interfaith America; former head of localization and faith-based efforts at USAID
- Melissa Rogers – Former Special Assistant to the President and Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships in the Biden and Obama administrations
- Jennifer Butler – Founder, Faith in Democracy; former founder and executive director, Faith in Public Life
- Maggie Siddiqi – Senior Fellow, Interfaith Alliance, former Director of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at U.S. Department of Education
At a time when religious communities are being targeted, and democratic institutions are under attack, this discussion serves as a powerful call to action, emphasizing that courage, community, and persistence are essential in this moment. Rep. Jamie Raskin warns, “It is the religious, the real religious community, that is under attack by these people, and we’ve got to stand up and defend all of these positive projects that religious organizations have been engaged in.” Rev. Jennifer Butler underscores the need for resistance, stating, “The first rule for resisting autocracy? Do not obey in advance.” Maggie Siddiqi highlights the misuse of government power, reminding us, “Formal investigations are the role of government whenever that’s warranted. Unsubstantiated slander is not.”
Skye Perryman reinforces the legal limits of executive authority, asserting, “In this country, the president doesn’t get to denounce the Constitution or take away constitutional rights with the stroke of a pen or with the signing of an executive order.” Rev. Adam Nicholas Phillips paints a dire picture of the consequences of policy decisions, warning, “Stories are unfolding every day, every hour, around the world because of the pause in funding, and because of the systematic dismantling of USAID in a matter of days.” Melissa Rogers reinforces the fundamental principles of democracy, stating, “Presidents are not kings, and thus the federal executive branch must have legal authority for its actions.”
Video of this panel discussion is available online at https://youtu.be/dXw0VjJOmJ8?si=huGDOgoJ-vDdY2bj
