Best BJC Podcasts (2025)

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S7, Ep. 08: 'A vibrant and free civil society is core to religious liberty in our country' 34:26

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6d ago34:26

34:26

In our last show of 2025, Amanda and Holly talk about some of the news from the past week – including an expansion of the travel ban, devastating attacks around the world, and an appearance by Amanda before Congress to talk about the importance of protecting civil society. Plus, get an update on the podcast's plans for spring 2026 as Amanda embarks…

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S7, Ep. 07: Religion in the military and the latest from Trump's Religious Liberty Commission 28:27

12d ago28:27

28:27

The Trump administration created a "Religious Liberty Commission" in May, and it seems to be a mix of performative posturing and grievance airing, with some policy substance thrown in. Amanda and Holly discuss what this commission has – and hasn't – done so far, and they look more closely at this week's hearing on religion in the military. Littered…

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S7, Ep. 06: Updates on Oak Flat, the Johnson Amendment, and efforts to post the Ten Commandments 25:48

20d ago25:48

25:48

Hear Amanda and Holly react live to some breaking developments in today's Respecting Religion podcast. One day after new legislation was introduced in Congress to save sacred Indigenous land, they discuss the history of and need for the Save Oak Flat from Foreign Mining Act. Plus, they talk about a brand-new class action lawsuit in Texas trying to …

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S7, Ep. 05: A religious freedom case flying under the radar: SCOTUS hears Landor v. Louisiana Dept. of Corrections 39:36

1M ago39:36

39:36

One religious freedom case at the Supreme Court isn't getting the sort of attention as others, despite how it's uniting groups that often disagree. So, why did the justices sound so skeptical in the courtroom? Amanda and Holly review this week's oral arguments in Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections, which involves the remedy available to …

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S7, Ep. 04: Criminalizing Mercy: Sanctuary and Government Repression of Migrant Justice 42:55

2M ago42:55

42:55

Today, we are bringing you a special presentation on the contested issue of "sanctuary," which continues to cut into the immigration debates in our country. Dr. Sergio M. González traces the sanctuary movement to its roots in the 1980s and examines how we arrived at a moment where mercy is met with repression. This presentation was given on the cam…

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S7, Ep. 03: Why is the Johnson Amendment under attack again? 38:00

2M ago38:00

38:00

We hear a lot of misinformation about a long-standing part of the tax code that protects the nonprofit sector, and it's newly under attack in a questionable manner. On this episode, Amanda and Holly discuss the Johnson Amendment, what it does and doesn't do, and the concerning way the Trump administration is trying to undo it without going through …

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S7, Ep. 02: Amanda and Holly LIVE on peaceful protests, the impact of the government shutdown, and more 25:38

2M ago25:38

25:38

In this LIVE conversation, Amanda and Holly take a moment to catch up and review some of the recent news since last week's program. They discuss how religious leaders have been engaging in peaceful protests of immigration raids, how the ongoing government shutdown is impacting court cases, a change in Oklahoma regarding Bible teaching in public sch…

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S7, Ep. 01: The Supreme Court in a new era 37:11

2M ago37:11

37:11

As the Supreme Court begins a new term, we can't ignore what else is going on in our country – attacks on the rule of law, weaponization of the Department of Justice, the militarization of American cities, disruptive and chaotic immigration enforcement, and a government shutdown. Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman are back for a new season of Respectin…

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Join us for season 7 of Respecting Religion 1:14

3M ago1:14

1:14

With attacks on the rule of law, the militarization of troops in American cities, and a new Supreme Court term starting up, there is no better time to tune in to Respecting Religion. Join Holly and Amanda as they return for a new season to share analysis, opportunities for action, and ways to make sense of issues at the intersection of religion and…

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AI, Trust, and Collaboration: a conversation with Knowledge Quarter CEO, Jodie Eastwood 38:04

5M ago38:04

38:04

In this special summer episode of Gateway to Informatics, we feature a live recording from the Bloomsbury Institute in London. Host Philip Payne, PhD is joined by Jodie Eastwood, CEO of the Knowledge Quarter, and Thomas Kannampallil, PhD, Professor and Chief Data Scientist at WashU Medicine. The episode dives deep into the innovative ecosystem of t…

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S6, Ep. 18: End of term roundup 55:51

6M ago55:51

55:51

On our season 6 finale, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman explore some of the consequential decisions from the final days of the Supreme Court term, including Mahmoud v. Taylor – which involves parents who want to opt their children out of curriculum they find in conflict with their religious beliefs – and U.S. v. Skrmetti, which focuses on access to …

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S6, Ep. 17: Christian nationalism and the Texas public sphere 52:15

6M ago52:15

52:15

What's the difference between religious privilege and religious freedom? How does Christian nationalism spread? Why do so many ideas that start in Texas expand to other parts of the country? On this podcast, we bring you a special panel discussion on Christian nationalism in the Texas public sphere, recorded live on April 8. It features BJC Executi…

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Building the Future of Public Health: A Conversation with Dr. Sandro Galea 39:49

6M ago39:49

39:49

In the latest episode of Gateway to Informatics, Dr. Philip Payne, WashU Medicine's Chief Data Scientist, hosts Dr. Sandro Galea, the inaugural Margaret C Ryan Dean of the newly established Washington University School of Public Health. Dr. Galea, a renowned population health scientist and physician, shares his extraordinary journey from Malta to C…

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S6, Ep. 16: What's going on with the Supreme Court, a new travel ban, and the military in L.A.? 37:58

7M ago37:58

37:58

With decisions from the Supreme Court, a new travel ban, and a federally militarized presence in Los Angeles, there are many activities in our world that deserve attention. Amanda and Holly discuss several current events in this episode, including the revival of one of the ugliest policies of the first Trump administration. Plus, they review the un…

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S6, Ep. 15: Religious objections and curriculum opt-outs: Oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor 40:30

7M ago40:30

40:30

A case with a thin record is raising plenty of questions at the Supreme Court. In this episode, Amanda and Holly examine the case of Mahmoud v. Taylor, which involves parents who want to opt their children out of public school curriculum they say conflicts with their religious beliefs. But, what's the difference between expected exposure and uncons…

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Special LIVE Episode: Vouchers in the budget bill, SCOTUS stops religious charter schools, and new decision on the Dept. of Education 22:06

7M ago22:06

22:06

In a conversation broadcast live on May 27, Amanda and Holly provide updates on a day of big news in the religious liberty world. They first look at the surprising 4-4 deadlock from the U.S. Supreme Court in the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board, et al. v. Drummond case, which preserves a religious liberty principle by stopping the creation o…

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S6, Ep. 14: The blockbuster SCOTUS case over religious charter schools 44:48

7M ago44:48

44:48

The most consequential church-state case of this Supreme Court term involves whether the government could – or even must – fund religious charter schools. Amanda and Holly examine key moments in the oral arguments from Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board, et al. v. Drummond, playing clips from the courtroom and looking at how the justices may a…

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S6, Ep. 13: Active citizenship: A conversation with Melissa Rogers about promoting religious freedom and the common good 37:39

8M ago37:39

37:39

Melissa Rogers joins the podcast for a conversation about how each of us can take steps to promote religious freedom and the common good in the United States today. After leading the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships in the Obama and Biden administrations, she shares her inside perspective on government, where we are r…

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Special Episode: Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia and the rule of law 18:07

8M ago18:07

18:07

On this special bonus episode of the Respecting Religion podcast, we are featuring a conversation that could not wait until our normal release date. In this still-developing story, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was mistakenly removed by the U.S. government from Maryland to El Salvador. His case and series of injustices are not just things that move …

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Transforming Health Systems Through Causal Inference: A Conversation with Dr. Miguel Hernán 38:23

8M ago38:23

38:23

In this episode of "Gateway to Informatics," Dr. Philip Payne, the WashU medicine chief data scientist and director of I2DB, engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Miguel Hernán, a leading expert in causal inference from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Hernán shares insights into his career journey, which began unex…

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S6, Ep. 12: Back to SCOTUS: Regular business in disturbing times 30:55

8M ago30:55

30:55

There has been no shortage of news from all three branches of government in Washington, D.C., but one thing hasn't changed: the U.S. Supreme Court continues to be interested in religious liberty cases. On today's show, Amanda and Holly review the recent oral arguments in Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin, which focuses on a religious exemption…

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Transforming Government through Digital Innovation: A Conversation with Jennifer Pahlka 37:45

9M ago37:45

37:45

In this compelling episode of Gateway to Informatics, Dr. Philip Payne, WashU's chief data scientist and director of the Institute for Informatics, Data Science and Biostatistics (I2DB), delves into an insightful discussion with Jennifer Pahlka, author of Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better. Pahlk…

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S6, Ep. 11: African Americans and Religious Freedom 43:16

9M ago43:16

43:16

African Americans' knowledge traditions, religious practices, political cultures and ideas are rich resources that facilitate new concepts of religious freedom. On this episode of Respecting Religion, Dr. Sabrina E. Dent and Dr. Corey D. B. Walker join Amanda and Holly to discuss the book they co-edited, African Americans and Religious Freedom: New…

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S6, Ep. 10: March Madness: Department of Education, school vouchers, and a Supreme Court preview 39:54

10M ago39:54

39:54

Actions and rumors of actions in Washington, D.C., are continuing to dominate the news cycle and keep people on edge. On this episode of Respecting Religion, Amanda and Holly discuss the devastation of dismantling the Department of Education and the problematic push for a nationwide school voucher program. They also look at the latest in the battle…

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Bridging AI and Healthcare: An In-depth Conversation with Dr. Chenyang Lu 34:19

10M ago34:19

34:19

Today, we're joined by Dr. Chenyang Lu, a renowned computer scientist and the founding director of the AI for Health Institute here at WashU. Now, I've had the privilege of knowing Dr. Lu for years, and I can tell you firsthand that he is one of the most innovative thinkers when it comes to bridging the gap between AI and healthcare. In fact, as Dr…

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S6, Ep. 09: Threats to religious freedom from the Trump administration and a look at the growing resistance 34:51

10M ago34:51

34:51

In our second show of the second Trump administration, Amanda and Holly run through a list of recent events that point to a gross misunderstanding of what "religious freedom" means. They review the policy announcements made during the National Prayer Breakfast – including the creation of a task force to "eradicate anti-Christian bias" – and they lo…

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S6, Ep. 08: Ten Commandments and Trump's first week 37:51

11M ago37:51

37:51

Special Presentation: We're bringing you the latest episode of the Respecting Religion podcast on the BJC Podcast feed. Join us on the Respecting Religion podcast feed for more episodes! In this week's episode of the Respecting Religion podcast, Amanda and Holly discuss the problems with government mandates to post the Ten Commandments in classroom…

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S6, Ep. 08: Ten Commandments and Trump's first week 36:36

11M ago36:36

36:36

In this week's show, Amanda and Holly discuss the problems with government mandates to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms, focusing on a case out of Louisiana. BJC and other Christian groups filed a brief in that case to explain why, as Christians, we oppose the Louisiana law and how the government's decision to choose a religious text to disp…

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Informatics in Action: A Conversation with Mary Politi on Data-Driven Decision Support 39:02

11M ago39:02

39:02

Welcome to Gateway to Informatics, a podcast hosted by Dr. Philip Payne, Chief Data Scientist at WashU Medicine and Director of the Institute for Informatics, Data Science, and Biostatistics (I2DB). Each episode features conversations with prominent figures in informatics, research, and healthcare. Our podcast delves into the latest developments, c…

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S6, Ep. 07: Jimmy Carter: Baptist, president, servant leader 29:50

11M ago29:50

29:50

President Jimmy Carter introduced millions of people to what it means to be a Baptist. In this episode, Amanda and Holly reflect on what he meant to our country and to both of them, as fellow Baptists, as well as his impact on faith freedom for all. They share how he is a shining example of the diversity of Baptists in our country as well as what i…

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Exploring the Frontiers of Genetics and Genomics with Ting Wang 33:21

1y ago33:21

33:21

Welcome to Gateway to Informatics, a podcast hosted by Dr. Philip Payne, Chief Data Scientist at WashU Medicine and Director of the Institute for Informatics, Data Science, and Biostatistics (I2DB). Each episode features conversations with prominent figures in informatics, research, and healthcare. Our podcast delves into the latest developments, c…

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S6, Ep. 06: Oral arguments in U.S. v. Skrmetti: Medical care for transgender youth and the Equal Protection Clause 43:55

1y ago43:55

43:55

A Supreme Court case on medical care for transgender youth could have major ramifications – not only for children who have gender dysphoria and their families but also for how other statutes are reviewed under the Equal Protection Clause. In this episode, Amanda and Holly examine the oral arguments in U.S. v. Skrmetti, breaking down key moments in …

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S6, Ep. 05: Secularization and the fracturing of the American left w/ John Compton, Angela Parker, and David Gushee 1:05:35

1y ago1:05:35

1:05:35

Today's episode brings you a special presentation on the politics of secularization, featuring a presentation from Dr. John Compton and responses from Rev. Dr. David Gushee and Rev. Dr. Angela Parker. Given the week after the 2024 presidential election, the lecture and responses explore how rising secularism contributes to the growth of political e…

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S6, Ep. 04: Election Day 2024: What happened and where do we go from here 39:49

1y ago39:49

39:49

Now that Election Day 2024 is in the rearview mirror, what did we learn? Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman look at the results and what they might mean for our country and the protection of faith freedom for all. They discuss where we saw religion used on the campaign trail, what we might expect to see in the next four years under a second Trump admin…

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From Computer Science to Clinical Impact: Albert Lai's Informatics Journey 36:07

1y ago36:07

36:07

Welcome to Gateway to Informatics, a podcast hosted by Dr. Philip Payne, Chief Data Scientist at WashU Medicine and Director of the Institute for Informatics, Data Science, and Biostatistics (I2DB). Each episode features conversations with prominent figures in informatics, research, and healthcare. Our podcast delves into the latest developments, c…

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S6, Ep. 03: On the road with 'How to End Christian Nationalism' 49:00

1y ago49:00

49:00

Today's episode takes you on the road with Amanda Tyler as she travels the country with her book, titled "How to End Christian Nationalism." You'll hear a conversation with Amanda and the Rev. Dr. Bill Leonard about the problems of Christian nationalism, held October 29 at Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. "How to End Chris…

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S6, Ep. 02: Oklahoma and Texas try to force Bible teaching in public schools 44:00

1y ago44:00

44:00

We continue to see bold attempts by people who espouse Christian nationalism to influence our youngest population, and news this summer out of Oklahoma and Texas show two troubling examples. In this episode, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman talk about the edict from Ryan Walters in Oklahoma to mandate having the Bible in public schools – alongside ou…

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Bridging Data, Medicine, and Mentorship: Insights from Atul Butte 28:37

1y ago28:37

28:37

Welcome to Gateway to Informatics, a podcast hosted by Dr. Philip Payne, Chief Data Scientist at WashU Medicine and Director of the Institute for Informatics, Data Science, and Biostatistics (I2DB). Each episode features conversations with prominent figures in informatics, research, and healthcare. Our podcast delves into the latest developments, c…

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S6, Ep. 01: The Supreme Court is back … and so are we 42:04

1y ago42:04

42:04

To kick off season 6 of Respecting Religion, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman take stock of the Supreme Court. There is no religion case on the docket – yet – for this term, but there are several cases that do impact religion. They review the most important things we saw out of last year's term – from the "Trump docket" to the abortion cases – and th…

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S5, Ep. 30: Season finale 32:04

1+ y ago32:04

32:04

As the weather heats up, so does the pace of Supreme Court decisions. On our season 5 finale of Respecting Religion, Amanda and Holly recap some recent decisions and discuss what we can expect in the next month. Religion is still at play in several cases, even if religious legal statutes aren't the questions being considered. Plus, they look at som…

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S5, Ep. 29: LGBTQ rights and religious freedom 43:13

1+ y ago43:13

43:13

LGBTQ rights and religious freedom are often pitted against one another, but they are not mutually exclusive. This episode of Respecting Religion looks at the recent decision by the United Methodist Church to repeal its ban on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex weddings as well as the broader conversation. Holly Hollman is joined by guest co-host Guthrie Gr…

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S5, Ep. 28: Conscience protections in SCOTUS abortion cases 40:29

1+ y ago40:29

40:29

How do religion and religious freedom arguments interact with cases about abortion access? The legal landscape here is beyond complex, and in this episode, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman look at how conscience protections were discussed in two recent Supreme Court cases about abortion. There is a deepening religion and policy conversation in our co…

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S5, Ep. 27: 100 episodes and 100,000 downloads 41:41

1+ y ago41:41

41:41

For the 100th episode of Respecting Religion, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman answer listener questions, ranging from the law surrounding the tax-exempt status of religious institutions to their favorite Supreme Court justices. They also look at some of the big Supreme Court decisions and the shifts on the Court since this podcast began four years a…

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S5, Ep. 26: Archaic laws and new theories emerge from state abortion debates 33:27

1+ y ago33:27

33:27

The intersection of abortion and religion often grabs headlines, and this episode of Respecting Religion looks at recent developments in two states: Arizona and Indiana. Amanda and Holly discuss an Indiana case that involves free exercise arguments under state law to support abortion, and they examine the impact of Arizona's 1864 law that criminali…

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S5, Ep. 25: The crisis in teaching constitutional law 40:29

1+ y ago40:29

40:29

Some troubling trends at the Supreme Court are starting to affect the legal profession and how students in law school approach the U.S. Constitution. As SCOTUS continues to upend decades of established precedent in church-state law, Amanda and Holly discuss what's changed since they were in law school and the rapid changes in church-state law itsel…

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S5, Ep. 24: Race, religion and citizenship 26:58

1+ y ago26:58

26:58

Hear excerpts from a special event we organized at the University of Southern California on race, religion and citizenship in this episode of Respecting Religion. The Rev. Dr. Joseph Evans and the Rev. Dr. Christopher The brought their unique experiences and expertise to a conversation on religious and racial identity, moderated by the Rev. Dr. Naj…

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S5, Ep. 23: The Bible doesn't need Trump's endorsement 35:11

1+ y ago35:11

35:11

When former President Donald Trump announced during Holy Week that he was endorsing the "God Bless the USA" Bible, the reaction was swift. But, beyond the punchlines and the obvious concerns, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman discuss why the video is concerning to our current political moment and the continued rise of Christian nationalism. Not all ex…

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S5, Ep. 22: Spring break and religious holidays 36:58

1+ y ago36:58

36:58

There are many religious holidays in the spring, but not all are given the same public acknowledgment – from government-sponsored events to time off from school and work. Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman discuss how Christian privilege shows up in how our country recognizes and accommodates certain holidays, as well as how holidays help us understand…

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S5, Ep. 21: But … is it Christian nationalism? 47:15

2y ago47:15

47:15

Is an American flag in a church sanctuary an example of Christian nationalism? What about faith-based advocacy? Helping voters get to the polls? Saying the Constitution is "divinely inspired"? Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman answer some common questions they hear about Christian nationalism, and they talk about the questions we should be asking ours…

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S5, Ep. 20: Attending the State of the Union 43:35

2y ago43:35

43:35

Get a first-hand account of attending the State of the Union address on this episode. Amanda Tyler talks with Holly Hollman about her experience, providing a new way to think about who represents our country in the room during the president's address. She shares about her invitation and various discussions with members of Congress about Christian n…