The Scathing Atheist

683: Rope a Pope Edition

In this week’s episode, Donald Trump gets THIS close to saying he won the papal election too, we meet a bigotry-based puppet act almost as obnoxious as Jeff Dunham, and Ross Douthat will devote six whole pages to the problem of evil. --- To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com [http://Patreon.com], click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist [http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist] Get your ticket to see Noah live in Cincinnati here: https://www.sethandrews.com/cincinnati [https://www.sethandrews.com/cincinnati] To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/ [https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/] If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com [scathingnews@gmail.com] To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat [https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat] To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies [https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies] To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/ [http://citationpod.com/] To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/ [https://danddminus.libsyn.com/] Report instances of harassment or abuse connected to this show to the Creator Accountability Network here: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/ [https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/] --- Headlines: Trump feuds with Pope: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/13/us/trump-news [https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/13/us/trump-news] and https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-pope-leo-what-they-said-c9a721a132f1941eaebc139e1213937d [https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-pope-leo-what-they-said-c9a721a132f1941eaebc139e1213937d] https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2026/04/11/anthropic-christians-claude-morals/ [https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2026/04/11/anthropic-christians-claude-morals/] Nuns caring for cancer patients challenge NY LGBT law forcing them to 'violate' beliefs on sex: https://www.christianpost.com/news/nuns-challenge-new-york-lgbt-law-they-say-violates-their-faith.html [https://www.christianpost.com/news/nuns-challenge-new-york-lgbt-law-they-say-violates-their-faith.html] Newsmax reports that aliens are too androgynous and never pee standing up: https://www.wonkette.com/p/newsmax-guy-why-do-we-never-see-aliens [https://www.wonkette.com/p/newsmax-guy-why-do-we-never-see-aliens] Trump shares image of himself as Jesus: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/13/trump-social-media-jesus-image-deleted-00869061 [https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/13/trump-social-media-jesus-image-deleted-00869061] National puppetry group faces backlash for platforming anti-LGBTQ Christian puppetry group https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/national-puppetry-group-faces-backlash [https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/national-puppetry-group-faces-backlash]

682: Astro-Naughty Edition

In this week’s episode, Trump’s Easter message goes a little off track, we learn that Jesus Christ definitely skipped egg day again, and Biblepiece Theater will check the New Testament’s spam folder. --- To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com [http://Patreon.com], click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist [http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist] To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/ [https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/] If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com [scathingnews@gmail.com] To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat [https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat] To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies [https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies] To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/ [http://citationpod.com/] To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/ [https://danddminus.libsyn.com/] Report instances of harassment or abuse connected to this show to the Creator Accountability Network here: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/ [https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/] --- Guest Links: Get tickets to see Noah and Seth live in Cincinnati on July 11th: https://www.sethandrews.com/cincinnati [https://www.sethandrews.com/cincinnati] Learn more about Tri-State Freethinkers’ annual Ark Park Protest: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HezXMbHKP/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HezXMbHKP/] --- Headlines: Trump’s easter message goes off the rails: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-easter-egg-roll-iran-comments-b2952521.html [https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-easter-egg-roll-iran-comments-b2952521.html] Jonathan Majors Fell Through A Window On Daily Wire Action Flick, Leading Crew To Walk Off Set; Producers Say They “Don’t Negotiate With Communists”: https://deadline.com/2026/04/jonathan-majors-falls-through-window-crew-strike-daily-wire-1236773038/ [https://deadline.com/2026/04/jonathan-majors-falls-through-window-crew-strike-daily-wire-1236773038/] Florida attorney general says state can ignore its own constitution to fund religion: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/florida-attorney-general-says-state [https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/florida-attorney-general-says-state] JD Vance’s book uses random church for cover photo: https://people.com/jd-vance-memoir-catholicism-shows-methodist-church-11940702 [https://people.com/jd-vance-memoir-catholicism-shows-methodist-church-11940702] Nuns who broke back into their Austrian convent ‘are step closer to being able to stay’: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/03/nuns-who-broke-back-into-their-austrian-convent-are-step-closer-to-being-able-to-stay [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/03/nuns-who-broke-back-into-their-austrian-convent-are-step-closer-to-being-able-to-stay] Massive Texas drone show brings Easter story to the sky: https://dallasexpress.com/state/massive-texas-drone-show-brings-easter-story-to-the-sky/ [https://dallasexpress.com/state/massive-texas-drone-show-brings-easter-story-to-the-sky/] --- This Week in Misogyny: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/these-christian-men-want-women-barefoot [https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/these-christian-men-want-women-barefoot] https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/opinion/women-workplace-dei-feminism.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/opinion/women-workplace-dei-feminism.html]

681: Let Me Finnish Edition

In this week’s episode, The Washington Post puts the edit in editorialize, Republicans at CPAC plan to destroy the left with their girthy rizz, and Michael Marshall will be here to give you new people to hate. --- To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com [http://Patreon.com], click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist [http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist] To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/ [https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/] If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com [scathingnews@gmail.com] To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat [https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat] To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies [https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies] To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/ [http://citationpod.com/] To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/ [https://danddminus.libsyn.com/] Report instances of harassment or abuse connected to this show to the Creator Accountability Network here: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/ [https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/] --- Guest Links: Check out more from Marsh on Skeptics with a K [https://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/podcasts/skeptics-with-a-k] and the Know Rogan Experience [https://www.knowrogan.com/] --- Headlines: Finnish Religious Freedom Case isn’t what Bezos seems to think: https://yle.fi/a/74-20217856 [https://yle.fi/a/74-20217856] and https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/03/27/finland-free-speech-religion-paivi-rasanen/ [https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/03/27/finland-free-speech-religion-paivi-rasanen/] Church attendance report pulled after YouGov finds 'fraudulent' responses: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwjxx5eyn1o [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwjxx5eyn1o] JD Vance warns that extraterrestrials are demons: 'I'm going to get to the bottom of this' https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/jd-vance-warns-extraterrestrials-demons-030714971.html [https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/jd-vance-warns-extraterrestrials-demons-030714971.html?guccounter=1] Pope Leo hosts exorcist summit at the Vatican over fears of worldwide surge in Satanism: https://nypost.com/2026/03/24/world-news/pope-leo-hosts-exorcist-summit-at-the-vatican-over-fears-of-worldwide-surge-in-satanism/ [https://nypost.com/2026/03/24/world-news/pope-leo-hosts-exorcist-summit-at-the-vatican-over-fears-of-worldwide-surge-in-satanism/] Minnesota Priests claim charging them with sexual assault is a violation of religious freedom: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/catholic-priests-say-charging-them [https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/catholic-priests-say-charging-them] Benny Johnson: MAGA Will “Outbreed Hideous Left” https://www.joemygod.com/2026/03/benny-johnson-maga-will-outbreed-hideous-left/ [https://www.joemygod.com/2026/03/benny-johnson-maga-will-outbreed-hideous-left/]

680: Downchuck Edition

In this week’s episode, Pete Hegseth puts the A hole in “a holy war,” a top-level FEMA official makes up a lie about being the worst X-Man ever, and we’ll make sure our obituary skills are warmed up for when the big one happens. --- To see us live in San Francisco, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/god-awful-movies-live-in-san-francisco-california-tickets-1976632374642 [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/god-awful-movies-live-in-san-francisco-california-tickets-1976632374642] To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com [http://Patreon.com], click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist [http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist] To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/ [https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/] If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com [scathingnews@gmail.com] To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat [https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat] To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies [https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies] To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/ [http://citationpod.com/] To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/ [https://danddminus.libsyn.com/] Report instances of harassment or abuse connected to this show to the Creator Accountability Network here: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/ [https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/] --- Headlines: Mikey Weinstein’s full of shit, but Hegseth is still being WAY too Christian about killing Muslims: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/20/us/politics/hegseth-christianity-military.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/20/us/politics/hegseth-christianity-military.html] Christian Right congresswoman wants you to put your abortion in a potty colander: https://www.wonkette.com/p/very-sane-congresswoman-wants-you [https://www.wonkette.com/p/very-sane-congresswoman-wants-you] Russel Brand baptized a guy in the penguin pool at a Christian zoo: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/article/russell-brand-baptism-penguin-enclosure-zoo-kvnd9pmb5 [https://www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/article/russell-brand-baptism-penguin-enclosure-zoo-kvnd9pmb5] Top FEMA official says he once teleported to a Waffle House: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/20/fema-gregg-phillips-waffle-house [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/20/fema-gregg-phillips-waffle-house]

679: Statue of Limitations Edition

In this week’s episode, Alabaman children make a much more depressing kind of wish, The Guardian is pretty sure AI witchcraft is on the rise thanks to Gemini of Newt, and Ross Douthat will hide little thoughts in big words again. --- To see us live in San Francisco, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/god-awful-movies-live-in-san-francisco-california-tickets-1976632374642 [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/god-awful-movies-live-in-san-francisco-california-tickets-1976632374642] To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com [http://Patreon.com], click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist [http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist] To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/ [https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/] If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com [scathingnews@gmail.com] To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat [https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat] To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies [https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies] To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/ [http://citationpod.com/] To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/ [https://danddminus.libsyn.com/] Report instances of harassment or abuse connected to this show to the Creator Accountability Network here: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/ [https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/] --- Guest Links: Check out the New Books in Secularism podcast here: https://newbooksnetwork.com/category/religion-faith/secularism [https://newbooksnetwork.com/category/religion-faith/secularism] See Noah’s Tarot talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRsYQFbOH3E [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRsYQFbOH3E] --- Headlines: Alabama House passes law requiring each school day start with student led prayer: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/alabama-house-passes-bill-forcing [https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/alabama-house-passes-bill-forcing] Thiel brings his Antichrist lectures to the Vatican’s doorstep, and Catholic institutions back away: https://apnews.com/article/italy-peter-thiel-paypal-pope-vatican-c3a6c7d2daba501caf8152558ac2d743 [https://apnews.com/article/italy-peter-thiel-paypal-pope-vatican-c3a6c7d2daba501caf8152558ac2d743] https://ground.news/article/popes-ai-advisor-calls-thiels-rome-lectures-prolonged-act-of-heresy_a17f76 [https://ground.news/article/popes-ai-advisor-calls-thiels-rome-lectures-prolonged-act-of-heresy_a17f76] Muslim parents, private schools sue Texas over exclusion of Islamic institutions in voucher program: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/education/2026/03/12/545932/texas-lawsuit-school-vouchers-muslim-parent/ [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/education/2026/03/12/545932/texas-lawsuit-school-vouchers-muslim-parent/] Mike Johnson warns of encroaching Sharia law in US: 'Serious issue': https://www.christianpost.com/news/mike-johnson-warns-of-encroaching-sharia-law-in-us.html [https://www.christianpost.com/news/mike-johnson-warns-of-encroaching-sharia-law-in-us.html] House GOP leadership silent as more members post anti-Muslim statements: https://www.npr.org/2026/03/14/g-s1-113667/republicans-sharia-law-andy-ogles-mike-johnson [https://www.npr.org/2026/03/14/g-s1-113667/republicans-sharia-law-andy-ogles-mike-johnson] ChatGPT driving rise in reports of ‘satanic’ organised and ritual abuse, UK experts say: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/08/chatgpt-driving-rise-in-reports-of-satanic-organised-ritual-abuse-uk-experts-say [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/08/chatgpt-driving-rise-in-reports-of-satanic-organised-ritual-abuse-uk-experts-say] --- This Week in Misogyny: Judge decides how US women give birth: https://www.propublica.org/article/florida-court-ordered-c-sections [https://www.propublica.org/article/florida-court-ordered-c-sections] Judge dismisses divorce proceedings because “a few beatings won’t kill you.” https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/mar/12/a-few-beatings-wont-kill-you-judge-rejects-divorce-request-of-woman-abused-by-husband-in-afghanistan [https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/mar/12/a-few-beatings-wont-kill-you-judge-rejects-divorce-request-of-woman-abused-by-husband-in-afghanistan]