Twenty-five years after 9/11, anti-Muslim sentiment appears to be as bad or worse than it was after 9/11, primarily amongst Republicans.

And the way that Zohran Mamdani (and Abdul El-Sayed and many other Muslims) has been treated by conservatives is appalling. Here is the latest manufactured outrage.

Sarah Leach and I will discuss this and much more tomorrow night! I hope you will join us.

Journalist Sarah Leach is a careful observer of local and state politics. I have my eye on national and international politics. Together, we have a good sense of the political scene as we head into “the most consequential election of our lifetime” yet again.

How do we feel about polling? Can we trust it at all?

Trump’s approval is low and he is not on the ballot. Will that lead to big margins for Democrats? Is the MAGA coalition breaking?

Tucker Carlson seems to be leading the populist right. He opposes Israel. He opposes the war with Iran. I’m hearing more support for universal health care from the Bulwark crowd (never Trump Republicans). Is a truly populist right emerging?

Israel is playing a major role in Michigan politics and national politics. Where is this all heading and how will it affect the 2026 midterms? What is going on with Hillary Scholten and her support of Israel?

If Democrats win control of the House and the Senate, what should they do with that power?

We will cover all of this and more. Join us next Tuesday!

Our souls have taken a beating for the last few years, hell, for the last decade. At Still Processing we have tried to be honest, hopeful, and resilient. It hasn’t been easy. Tomorrow night, Matthew will show us how the little things point to the goodness of humanity. Stories like this help me, and maybe you too, believe in us humans.

You are going to love Matthew. If you are looking for some honesty and some hope and some goodness, come to Still Processing next week Thursday. It will be worth it. It will be life-giving.

Matthew Eicheldinger was a middle school teacher in Minnesota for fifteen years. He is also a multiple New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author, storyteller, and educator with a passion for creativity, education, and inspiring others through compelling narratives.

Matthew is, quite clearly, a good person, a kind person, and a thoughtful person.

In my correspondence with Matthew about the gathering, he wrote, “I think what I would love to focus on is the positivity I see within education systems during my travels… I am not adverse to talking about hard topics, but definitely want attendees to leave feeling lighter than when they came in.”

It’s a beautiful sentiment, one that I very much share. But frankly, Matthew is better at positivity and lightness than I am. And I’m so grateful for that. I’ve been moved by his writing, his storytelling. It’s been good for my soul.

Here’s is his most recent TikTok.

We used clips from the two Bulwark podcasts listed below. You can also read this article that Julia Curlee wrote for the Atlantic.

The Bulwark

Julia Curlee and Errin Haines: Cowards Are Running This Country

When Trump came back into power, his administration leaned heavily on former CIA analyst Julia Curlee to help safeguard our national security. The first CIA officer to transition openly, Curlee had worked at the highest levels in the White House for years. But once her gender identity became public through a witch hunt, she was hounded out. Curlee talks with Tim about the chaos of Trump’s slash-and-burn firings, the administration’s demonizing of trans people, and how Mike Pence treated her with dignity and respect when she was his personal briefer. Plus: The 19th’s Errin Haines joins to discuss the Florida primaries, the Dems’ prospects in the South, the real backlash against the…

Listen now

a month ago · 850 likes · 240 comments · Tim Miller

This one is for Subsribers only, I believe.

The Bulwark

Is Jon Ossoff the One We’ve Been Waiting For?

Sarah and JVL did a BIG show today. Sample awesome…

Listen now

24 days ago · 2079 likes · 937 comments · Jonathan V. Last and Sarah Longwell

Much thanks to Angela for her important work, and for coming to Holland to share it with us. We had a wonderful conversation.

At one point, Angela mentioned seeing a TikTok that I made about Jesus and Mamdani, which went viral.

“Canadian Christians frustrated with the Church have come ‘Undone’ and are leaving politely, almost apologetically, in what this book dubs a Quiet Deconstruction. Blessed are the Undone asks: what aspects of faith are being questioned, and why?

This book neither condemns nor condones the trend of those deconstructing their faith. It seeks to describe and document the Canadian ‘deconstructing faith’ scene while also providing a theological and sociological frame through which to understand it.”

Angela Bick is a Canadian journalist who has been following and studying faith deconstruction in Canada, and the United States. I’m excited to talk with Angela about her work.

I am skeptical of Christianity’s ability to change; Angela is more hopeful. Bring your thoughts and questions.

Here’s a clip from her book.

So I obviously had the phone pointed too far down, but that only affects things at the very end. Apologies. I decided to get a closer shot, and didn’t doublecheck it.

My dad and I had a wonderful conversation. I hope you enjoy it.

And finally, here is a definition of atheism that resonates with me right now.

“Canadian Christians frustrated with the Church have come ‘Undone’ and are leaving politely, almost apologetically, in what this book dubs a Quiet Deconstruction. Blessed are the Undone asks: what aspects of faith are being questioned, and why?

This book neither condemns nor condones the trend of those deconstructing their faith. It seeks to describe and document the Canadian ‘deconstructing faith’ scene while also providing a theological and sociological frame through which to understand it.”

I’m excited to talk with Angela about her work on deconstruction. I am skeptical of Christianity’s ability to change; Angela is more hopeful. It should make for a fruitful conversation. I may ask her to respond to this video from Britt Hartley, who will be our guest on October 1.

On another note, I will be writing more after August 6. I’ve been focusing my efforts on TikTok for the last few months. It’s been fun and rewarding. Here are two TikToks I made featuring Mayor Mamdani, both of which have been pretty popular.

This one currently has 977k views and 190k likes.

This one has 110k views and 11.5k likes.

And here’s one on foreign countries meddling in our elections. This one has a modest 28k views, and 3,500 likes.

My dad and I have been kicking around some clips and ideas for tomorrow night. We want to focus mostly on what and how we are reconstructing after going through religious deconstruction. How have our worldviews changed? What do we think of Christianity, Jesus, the Bible, church?

Here are a few more videos we have exchanged. This first one is from an astrophysicist.

This next one comes from a colleague that we worked with in Bethlehem. His name is Sami Awad, the founder of Holy Land Trust.

This one comes from Britt Hartley, who will be our guest at Still Processing on October 1.

Finally, here’s something from James Talarico who is running for the U.S. Senate.

Joel and I discuss art, imagination, creativity, and more. Enjoy!

It’s been a minute since my dad and I led a gathering! But for those who don’t know, this is how Still Processing began!

My dad and I have been doing this for decades, honestly. It started with church and the Bible, and thankfully, our conversations have expanded, especially over the last ten years.

We have been through a lot together. Some of it was painful and could have led to disconnection. But we respected and loved each other enough to listen and repair. It’s been a gift.

Here are three short videos that have caught out attention.

My partner, Nicoly, and I spent a week in San Diego recently. We were hoping to see blue whales. That didn’t happen, but we did have this beautiful encounter.

Most of you probably realized that I meant July 9 when I wrote June 9. But I didn’t want there to be any confusion.

Joel and I will be discussing his life as an activist and artist this Thursday, July 9.

I don’t think we’ll have time for these two videos, which I love, but I’ll leave them here for you to watch and consider.

Artist and Activist Joel Schoon-Tanis joins Still Processing to discuss the creative process, imagination, resistance, and joy. Joel has spent his life as an artist, primarily as a painter, though he also sings in a band. Joel and Josh will dig into the mystery and importance of creativity, especially in times of uncertainty, pain, and injustice. Below are two short videos that we will be responding to. I hope to see you Thursday evening!

This first one is from the On Being podcast with Krista Tippet. Adrienne Maree Brown, activist and organizer, talks about the importance of imagination.

And here is Ethan Hawke, again, discussing how art is not a luxury.

Kate and I had a wonderful conversation on Michigan politics, national politics, Israel/Palestine, and immigration. It was a great night.

Artist and activist, Joel Schoon-Tanis joins Still Processing on July 9. As we all struggle with meaning, hope, rage, sadness, joy, and helplessness, it is imperative that we look to art and creativity for inspiration. As the creative director of Still Processing, I have spent the last four years intensely reimagining myself and my relationship to reality, ultimately leading me out of Christianity and religion. Together, Joel and I will unpack our own creative processes and explain how imagination is critical for resistance and for a life of joy and purpose.

Art is not a luxury, as Ethan Hawke powerfully explains.

Kate and I always have a meaningful and fun time together. On TikTok, I started a new series called, “Is it profound, or is it just in the Bible?” I asked Kate to think about John 3:16 for Thursday. And specifically, how would I (and maybe Kate) complete this sentence, “For God so loved the world…”? The old logic, that love and violence go together (Jesus died for your sins, for example), just doesn’t work for me anymore.

Kate Kooyman follows state and national politics closely. Before becoming the District Director for a Michigan state senator, she worked in the now defunct Office of Social Justice in the Christian Reformed Church. Much of her time there was focused of immigration reform, which Marco Rubio helped to craft and John Boehner effectively killed by simply not allowing a vote on it in the House. Somehow, that was 2014, only 12 years ago.

I’ve been following the Iran debacle closely, which is now a part of our state and national politics. Israel is at the center of it all.

I’ve been working hard on TikTok over the last two months, crafting engaging videos that educate on deconstruction, the Bible, Israel, U.S. politics, and culture. The two videos above are a part of that project. Here’s another recent one on Eve in Genesis 2-3.

I hope to see you Thursday night.

Kate Kooyman follows state and national politics closely. Before becoming the District Director for Winnie Brinks, she worked in the now defunct Office of Social Justice in the Christian Reformed Church. Much of her time there was focused of immigration reform, which Marco Rubio helped to craft and John Boehner effectively killed by simply not allowing a vote on it in the House. Somehow, that was 2014, only 12 years ago.

Now we have mass deportation, which is actually just a way for Republicans to do as much ethnic cleansing of non-whites as possible. It requires terrorizing millions of immigrants and citizens. Two American citizens have been murdered by the government for protesting the terrorization of their neighbors. No one has been prosecuted for these murders, even though there is video evidence of both murders.

There is widespread abuse and neglect of detainees at ICE detention centers, which are nearly all privately run (90%)/. Detainees in Camp East Montana on the U.S. Army's Fort Bliss military base in El Paso, Texas, have filed a lawsuit against the government. NPR notes, "Detained people are regularly subjected to severe beatings or sexual harassment by guards; squalid living conditions; spoiled and inadequate food; no meaningful programming or recreation; inadequate access to basic hygiene products such as soap, razors or nail clippers, outbreaks of disease; and limited or no access to sunlight," according to the complaint.1

Kate and I will discuss the Senate race in Michigan. The Democratic primary for the Senate is fascinating. Support for the state of Israel is figuring prominently in this primary as Israel bleeds support amongst Democrats. I’m a big fan of Abdul El-Sayed. I’m anxious to hear Kate’s thoughts on this race.

We will discuss all of this, and probably a bit more. I apologize for not writing more. I will be getting back to it soon. I’ve been putting out a lot of videos on TikTok and Facebook. Here are a couple of my more recent posts.

This one focuses on the racism that is so prevalent in Israeli Jewish society.

This one focuses on Jesus’s racism toward Gentiles/non-Jews.