Freethought Radio

Topic: Religion Rules in Manitowoc County, Wis., & Why He Is Standing Up to It
Also: FFRF's New Bus Sign Campaign Unveiled!

The hosts unveil FFRF's new bus sign campaign, debuting in February in Madison, Wis.,(and going around the nation as funds permit), including memorable quotations by freethinkers, including Richard Dawkins. Interviewed will be Foundation member Paul T. Rappel, who will talk about why he decided to stand up and become a plaintiff in FFRF's new federal lawsuit challenging a 62-year nativity scene violation by Manitowoc County, Wis, an ultra-conservative spot.

Topics include Inaugural Religion

Lively commentary and clips from the Presidential Inauguration, from the freethought point of view, and an update on the Newdow inaugural prayer lawsuit, will precede an interview with Jason Torpy, president of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers.

Topic: State/Church Separation Activism

The broadcast will include guest Ed Hensley, one of 10 plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit filed to challenge a Kentucky law requiring the state Department of Homeland Security to stress "dependence on Almighty God as being vital to the security of the Commonwealth." Also interviewed will be the Foundation's new staff attorney, Rebecca Kratz, who will report on ending several major state/church violations this month, including Christian proselytization of service men and women in Iraq, as well as religious violations in public schools in California and Florida.

Topics: Stem-Cell Research: The Future, and Update on Inaugural Prayer Challenge

The featured guest will be filmmaker Jessica Gerstle, whose movie, "The Accidental Advocate," chronicles the moving quest of her surgeon father, Claude Gerstle, who was recently paralyzed, to seek answers on stem-cell research and what is holding it up.  Jessica will address the complex barriers to full stem-cell research, thanks to religious-right incursions into the federal bureaucracy. The hosts will also update the new inaugural prayer challenge and discuss the dangers of politicians, such as Roland W. Burris, believing they are "anointed by God."

A lively wrap-up of 2008, with audio clips of funny or infuriating moments by would-be theocrats of 2008, will be followed by an interview of state/church watchdog Mike Newdow about the new federal challenge of inaugural prayers. A brief remembrance of freethinkers who died in 2008, and the song "Dear God," by XTC, will also be featured.