The Scathing Atheist

695: Virtual Pretend Edition

Come see us live in Washington, DC on August 14th!: https://www.atlasarts.org/events/god-awful-movies/ [https://www.atlasarts.org/events/god-awful-movies/] In this week’s episode, a bible school takes a vacation from sanity, the US women's team looks primed to win the World Cup again, and Christians will find yet new lands to colonize. --- 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/] --- Appearance Notes: Get tickets to see Noah in Cincinnati: https://www.sethandrews.com/cincinnati [https://www.sethandrews.com/cincinnati] Learn more about the Ark Park protest here: https://www.facebook.com/events/ark-encounter/10th-anniversary-ark-encounter-protest/1591721388785519/ [https://www.facebook.com/events/ark-encounter/10th-anniversary-ark-encounter-protest/1591721388785519/] Get your tickets to BAHACon here: https://bahacon.com/ [https://bahacon.com/] --- Headlines: Viral video shows mock execution at Vacation Bible School: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/viral-video-shows-church-staging [https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/viral-video-shows-church-staging] Vatican excommunicates all members of ultra-conservative rebel group SSPX: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/02/vatican-excommunicates-all-members-of-ultra-conservative-rebels-sspx [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/02/vatican-excommunicates-all-members-of-ultra-conservative-rebels-sspx] Stephen Miller is pretty sure that Trump was sent by God: https://www.thedailybeast.com/stephen-miller-makes-bonkers-claim-about-divine-president/ [https://www.thedailybeast.com/stephen-miller-makes-bonkers-claim-about-divine-president/] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/we-dug-up-stephen-millers-dubious-dating-advice-and-relationship-experts-say-its-telling-g_l_6a451831e4b07b95cff31d69 [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/we-dug-up-stephen-millers-dubious-dating-advice-and-relationship-experts-say-its-telling-g_l_6a451831e4b07b95cff31d69] Ken Ham big mad newspaper didn’t pretend his bullshit was science: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/ken-ham-is-furious-that-a-reporter [https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/ken-ham-is-furious-that-a-reporter] Christians think there are abortion pills in the drinking water: https://washingtonstand.com/article/pressure-mounts-on-epa-to-test-drinking-water-for-traces-of-abortion-pill [https://washingtonstand.com/article/pressure-mounts-on-epa-to-test-drinking-water-for-traces-of-abortion-pill] --- This Week in Misogyny: Manosphere getting worse on college campuses: https://19thnews.org/2026/07/manosphere-misogyny-infiltrates-college-campus/ [https://19thnews.org/2026/07/manosphere-misogyny-infiltrates-college-campus/] Australia set to be first nation to eliminate cervical cancer… if antivax idiots don’t fuck it up: https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2025/11/20/australia-on-track-to-eliminating-cervical-cancer.html [https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2025/11/20/australia-on-track-to-eliminating-cervical-cancer.html] Catholics sell hospital, reproductive care immediately reintroduced: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/a-catholic-hospital-was-sold-reproductive [https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/a-catholic-hospital-was-sold-reproductive]

694: Bearing False Witnesses Edition

Come see us live in Washington, DC on August 14th!: https://www.atlasarts.org/events/god-awful-movies/ [https://www.atlasarts.org/events/god-awful-movies/] In this week’s episode, Trump has one particular religion’s liberty in mind, JD Vance lies about hanging ten while couch surfing, and we can, in fact, get a witness. --- 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 in Cincinnati: https://www.sethandrews.com/cincinnati [https://www.sethandrews.com/cincinnati] Learn more about the Ark Park protest here: https://www.facebook.com/events/ark-encounter/10th-anniversary-ark-encounter-protest/1591721388785519/ [https://www.facebook.com/events/ark-encounter/10th-anniversary-ark-encounter-protest/1591721388785519/] Get your tickets to BAHACon here: https://bahacon.com/ [https://bahacon.com/] --- Headlines: Religious Liberty Commission issues its final report: https://www.justice.gov/religious-liberty-commission/resources [https://www.justice.gov/religious-liberty-commission/resources] Run Hide Fight Infidels summary and trailer are here and they are glorious: https://www.avclub.com/jonathan-majors-daily-wire-movie-synopsis [https://www.avclub.com/jonathan-majors-daily-wire-movie-synopsis] New survey shows the majority of Americans favor teacher led prayer in schools: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/yikes-most-americans-now-support [https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/yikes-most-americans-now-support] Florida proposes 50% sin tax for Only Fans: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/florida-gop-candidate-wants-50-sin-tax-onlyfans-creators-fight-cultural-degeneracy [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/florida-gop-candidate-wants-50-sin-tax-onlyfans-creators-fight-cultural-degeneracy] JD Vance and his disingenuous Catholicism very clearly detested by Usha Vance: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/usha-vance-stable-household-jd-vance-insult_n_6a3c43d7e4b0810d44254bde [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/usha-vance-stable-household-jd-vance-insult_n_6a3c43d7e4b0810d44254bde]

693: Falsie Tulsi Edition

In this week’s episode, Tulsi Gabbard is in a cult worse than conservatism, Dusty Deevers rides off sadly into the sunset with tumbleweed rolling past, and we’ll once again learn the importance of not f**king. --- 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 in Cincinnati: https://www.sethandrews.com/cincinnati [https://www.sethandrews.com/cincinnati] Learn more about the Ark Park protest here: https://www.facebook.com/events/ark-encounter/10th-anniversary-ark-encounter-protest/1591721388785519/ [https://www.facebook.com/events/ark-encounter/10th-anniversary-ark-encounter-protest/1591721388785519/] Get your tickets to BAHACon here: https://bahacon.com/ [https://bahacon.com/] --- Headlines: Court doesn’t care about religious freedom when it isn’t a Christian (from the Diatribe): https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-rules-rastafarian-man-religious-rights-claim-prison-offi-rcna252594 [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-rules-rastafarian-man-religious-rights-claim-prison-offi-rcna252594] WaPo exposes the degree to which Tulsi Gabbard is all culted up: https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/06/21/tulsi-gabbard-her-guru-mysterious-messages-that-helped-shape-her-political-career/ [https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/06/21/tulsi-gabbard-her-guru-mysterious-messages-that-helped-shape-her-political-career/] Trump Admin Rebrands Frozen Embryos As 'Children Who Already Exist': https://www.wonkette.com/p/trump-admin-rebrands-frozen-embryos [https://www.wonkette.com/p/trump-admin-rebrands-frozen-embryos] Pope Leo Popularity Plummets With Republican Catholics: https://www.newsweek.com/pope-leo-popularity-republican-catholics-12095241 [https://www.newsweek.com/pope-leo-popularity-republican-catholics-12095241] DOJ says it will investigate MLB for issuing warning to players after anti-Pride protest: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/mlb-warns-san-francisco-giants-players [https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/mlb-warns-san-francisco-giants-players] https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jun/19/mlb-investigation-department-of-justice-pride-hats-religious-discrimination [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jun/19/mlb-investigation-department-of-justice-pride-hats-religious-discrimination] Rob Schneider offers to pay the fines: https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/maga-comedian-rob-schneider-offers-to-pay-fines-for-giants-players-over-pride-protest/ [https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/maga-comedian-rob-schneider-offers-to-pay-fines-for-giants-players-over-pride-protest/] Also Ted Nugent joined them: https://rockcelebrities.net/ted-nugent-joins-baseball-players-pride-jersey-fight-calls-rainbow-flag-evil/ [https://rockcelebrities.net/ted-nugent-joins-baseball-players-pride-jersey-fight-calls-rainbow-flag-evil/] Christian Nationalist Pastor Dusty Deevers Loses Reelection Bid: https://www.peoplefor.org/rightwingwatch/right-wing-boost-christian-nationalist-pastor-dusty-deevers-loses-reelection-bid [https://www.peoplefor.org/rightwingwatch/right-wing-boost-christian-nationalist-pastor-dusty-deevers-loses-reelection-bid] His replacement: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6179563/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6179563/] Who is the head physician for this: https://prclawton.com/ [https://prclawton.com/]

692: A Ross to Bear Edition

In this week’s episode, the Grand Canyon state creates an Arizona UNTRUTH, we learn that God has an atheist sense of humor with his weather-based smiting, and we’ll finally get the juicy personal Ross Douthat details you’ve been waiting for. --- 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: Learn more about SkeptiCal 2026 here: https://www.skepticalcon.com/ [https://www.skepticalcon.com/] Check out Waldo’s YouTube channel here:  https://www.youtube.com/@waldospoliticalstream [https://www.youtube.com/@waldospoliticalstream]  --- Headlines: AZ law goes too far to protect against religious harassment: https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2026/06/10/critics-say-religious-service-protections-could-run-afoul-of-right-to-free-speech/ [https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2026/06/10/critics-say-religious-service-protections-could-run-afoul-of-right-to-free-speech/] The country’s largest Protestant adoption agency is dropping LGBTQ couples — again: https://religionnews.com/2026/06/10/the-countrys-largest-protestant-adoption-agency-is-dropping-lgbtq-couples-again/ [https://religionnews.com/2026/06/10/the-countrys-largest-protestant-adoption-agency-is-dropping-lgbtq-couples-again/] Muslims feel unwelcome in the bigot party: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/06/15/texas-republican-party-convention-muslims-sharia-law/ [https://www.texastribune.org/2026/06/15/texas-republican-party-convention-muslims-sharia-law/] The Hill pretends Jewish services are just hanging out for a pray with your bros: https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/5921285-religious-assembly-permit-lawsuit/ [https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/5921285-religious-assembly-permit-lawsuit/] This week in Christian history: https://www.christianpost.com/news/this-week-in-christian-history-touchdown-jesus-destroyed.html [https://www.christianpost.com/news/this-week-in-christian-history-touchdown-jesus-destroyed.html]

691: 31 Flavors Edition

In this week’s episode, Pete Hegseth whittles down America’s list of real religions, we lament the shutdown of the storied Riverstone Christian Academy in the strip mall behind the Staples, and we’ll get to know Don Ford biblically. Again. --- 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 Seth and Noah in Cincinnati! https://www.sethandrews.com/cincinnati [https://www.sethandrews.com/cincinnati] Learn moe about SkeptiCal Con here: https://www.skepticalcon.com/ [https://www.skepticalcon.com/] --- Headlines: Pete Hegseth shrinks military's recognized religions list, erasing atheists and Humanists: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/pete-hegseth-shrinks-militarys-recognized [https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/pete-hegseth-shrinks-militarys-recognized] And https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/06/06/lds-church-left-off-defense/ [https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/06/06/lds-church-left-off-defense/] and https://atheists.org/news/federal-policy/american-atheists-demands-answers-from-pentagon-following-removal-of-faith-belief-codes/ [https://atheists.org/news/federal-policy/american-atheists-demands-answers-from-pentagon-following-removal-of-faith-belief-codes/] Under guise of fighting anti-Catholic bias, Kash Patel fires FBI analysts who kept us safe: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/under-guise-of-fighting-anti-catholic [https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/under-guise-of-fighting-anti-catholic] Priest Who Said Aliens Were Demons Removed as Exorcist for Washington: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/us/catholic-exorcist-demon-ufo.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/us/catholic-exorcist-demon-ufo.html] MyPillow site gets hacked, Lindell lies, and he loses GOP endorsement for MN governor: https://www.wonkette.com/p/mypillow-guys-gubernatorial-dreams [https://www.wonkette.com/p/mypillow-guys-gubernatorial-dreams] Colorado’s ‘first public Christian school’ closes permanently: https://www.denverpost.com/2026/06/03/colorado-public-christian-school-closed/ [https://www.denverpost.com/2026/06/03/colorado-public-christian-school-closed/] --- This Week in Misogyny: TPUSA tradwife-con claims feminism is anti-woman: https://religionnews.com/2026/06/08/at-tpusas-womens-summit-christian-influencers-say-feminism-threatens-motherhood/ [https://religionnews.com/2026/06/08/at-tpusas-womens-summit-christian-influencers-say-feminism-threatens-motherhood/] SBC amends constitution to be more explicitly sexist: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/religion/article/sbc-female-pastors-vote-22299028.php [https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/religion/article/sbc-female-pastors-vote-22299028.php] Catholics challenge Illinois employment law on religious grounds: https://www.ncregister.com/cna/illinois-diocese-asks-court-to-block-law-requiring-it-to-hire-nonbelievers [https://www.ncregister.com/cna/illinois-diocese-asks-court-to-block-law-requiring-it-to-hire-nonbelievers]