First Liberty Live!: Recent Episodes
First Liberty
Each Thursday, First Liberty Institute brings you today's Essential Stories - straight from the Frontlines.
Watch Kelly Shackelford break down what happened at the last religious liberty commission meeting.
A coalition of 16 attorneys general--led by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird--has formally demanded answers from YouTube over its treatment of politically conservative content creators and channels.
Today, we are sitting down with General Bird to confront a growing concern facing millions of Americans:
Is Big Tech working behind the scenes to silence certain voices?
What did America’s Founders truly believe about faith — and why does it still matter today?
In his new book, What Really Matters, Tim Goeglein makes a compelling case that the strength of our nation has always been tied to our shared belief in God-given rights.
This week on First Liberty Live!, we sit down with Tim to discuss why faith was so central to America’s founding, how those principles are being challenged today, and what it will take to preserve them for the next generation.
Last week, the Supreme Court delivered a historic 9-0 decision that stated the district court was wrong when it dismissed Gabe Olivier’s case without ever hearing its merits.
This victory is a win for every American’s right to have their day in court when their First Amendment rights have been violated.
Today, First Liberty’s Kelly Shackelford and Nate Kellum are breaking down the Court’s decision. They will explain what it means not only for Gabe but also for any American who has been denied their day in court.
When Valerie Kloosterman requested a religious accommodation for referring patients for gender-transition drugs or procedures, the University of Michigan Health System not only denied her request - they fired her for making it.
Hospital officials also attacked her even though she had explained that she couldn’t refer patients for these procedures because they conflicted with her Christian faith.
Watch Valerie’s testimony from Monday’s Religious Liberty Commission meeting.
When the Supreme Court sets a precedent, it doesn’t just change one life – it opens the door for the lives of countless others to change.
That’s exactly what happened after the landmark Groff v. DeJoy decision. The Court made it clear that employers can’t brush aside religious accommodations simply because they’re inconvenient.
Listen to First Liberty’s Cliff Martin explain further how the Groff decision is protecting millions of employees nationwide.
Eric Martin-Rivera, a first-grade teacher, was recently at odds with his school's administration.
When his district's curriculum called for teachers to read books featuring same-sex married couples to their students, Eric sought an accommodation.
But the school's principal summoned Eric to her office, where he was told to forfeit his religious beliefs and teach the material—or face termination.
We sat down with Eric to hear his story in his own words.
On Thursday, February 5th, the U.S. Department of Education issued a much-needed update to federal guidance on prayer and religious expression in schools.
For a better understanding, First Liberty’s Jeremy Dys explains the new guidance policy and how this change impacts teachers, coaches, school administrators and students.
In 1776, America declared independence—but more importantly, we declared something greater:
Our rights come from God, not government.
That idea changed the world. And it’s what we’re honoring in this once-in-a-generation campaign: 250 Years of Faith and Freedom.
This historic initiative from First Liberty Institute will celebrate America’s First Freedom—Religious Liberty—from now until July 4, 2026.
And you’re part of it.
Watch First Liberty’s Kelly Shackelford discuss the importance of America’s 250th, the role religious liberty plays in keeping us free and why First Liberty is focused on securing our First Freedom for generations to come.
Check out our new website: https://freedom.firstliberty.org/
You might be surprised to learn that thousands of public-school students are going off campus every day for religious instruction during school hours.
Find out how that's possible in a remarkably well-produced documentary called Off School Property that will hit theaters all over America. It’s one of those one-night-only showings that you won’t want to miss.
Check out the film here: https://lifewise.org/offschoolproperty/
Watch LifeWise Founder Joel Penton and First Liberty attorney Holly Randall discuss the making of the documentary and what they hope comes from it. They’ll also share the trailer and tell you how you can get tickets.
Gabe Olivier has had the courthouse doors slammed in this face - twice.
Watch Gabe Olivier share his story and then stay tuned as First Liberty attorney Nate Kellum discusses the upcoming oral argument at the Supreme Court.
Right now, we have a unique opportunity to go on offense to expand our First Amendment rights.
Together, we can work to overturn the bad precedents at the Supreme Court. None of them are out of reach.
First Liberty's Kelly Shackelford and Jeff Mateer join in a roundtable discussion to unpack these precedents and why it's time for them to go.
Watch Zion share his story about what happened when he was silenced for sharing his faith during “social time” and why he decided to stand up and speak out.
On Monday, the President’s Religious Liberty Commission (RLC) met for the third time, and First Liberty once again played a major role in the direction and content of the meeting.
Commission members heard testimony from First Liberty attorney Keisha Russell and clients Coach Joe Kennedy and Connecticut schoolteacher Marisol Arroyo-Castro.
Watch this video update from Washington D.C. to get all the details and critical take-aways from this meeting.
When you fight to protect religious freedom, winning is critical.
Thanks to God’s favor and your generous support, losing isn’t something we do.
David Hacker, First Liberty’s Vice President of Legal Services, to fills you in on 6 recent wins and explain why each one is important.
President Donald Trump spoke at the second Religious Liberty Commission hearing in Washington, D.C.
The commissioners, including First Liberty President and CEO Kelly Shackelford, also heard from First Liberty clients who shared their stories.
We are witnessing the impact of the strong judicial appointments made during President Trump’s first term.
First Liberty's precedent-setting Supreme Court wins for Coach Kennedy, Gerald Groff, school choice and the Bladensburg Peace Cross are a testimony to the importance of appointing originalist judges.
Watch this conversation with Ilya Shapiro, one of America’s top constitutional scholars, as he discusses the current state of the judiciary and the opportunities that lay ahead to make new appointments during the Trump administration’s second term.
Watch this message from Allie Beth Stuckey on how showing love through truth allows people of faith to bring clarity to difficult situations.
Also hear an important message from Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti about a critical victory at the Supreme Court protecting children from gender transitioning surgeries, treatments and procedures.
A few years ago, flight attendants Lacey and Marli were investigated, questioned and fired by Alaska Airlines for asking faith-based questions on an employee-only website about the company’s support of the Equality Act.
That’s why we have asked the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to fix this issue.
Specifically, we asked the court to honor Lacey and Marli’s right to have their day in court and have the merits of their case argued before a jury of their peers.
Watch a short preview of today’s proceedings with First Liberty’s David Hacker and then we’ll send you into the 9th Circuit courtroom for all of the action.
Do you agree every well-rounded student should at least know about America’s important founding documents? Starting this fall, Arkansas will require privately donated copies of the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms.
We went to Arkansas to talk to state lawmakers and others about this new law.
There’s nothing free about a free speech zone. Gabriel Olivier found that out the hard way.
Gabriel, a strong believer in sharing his faith with others, routinely stood on a public sidewalk hoping to have peaceful conversations with others. But his city adopted an unconstitutional ordinance that prohibits religious speech on that public sidewalk.
Watch First Liberty volunteer attorney Allyson Ho, who will be arguing this case before the justices, discuss the Heck decision, why the justices took this case and what she does to prepare for oral argument at the Supreme Court.
Watch Aaron Renn, author of “Life in a Negative World,” discuss the world we live in and how the young men of Gen Z are driving a resurgence of faith throughout our nation.
Jonathan Turley, one of the most respected constitutional scholars in the country, discusses the importance of our First Amendment rights and why it’s critically important to the future of our nation to make sure they are protected for future generations.
This week, the Bladensburg Peace Cross celebrated its 100th Anniversary.
We were there to pay our respects to the fallen 49 World War I service members, their mothers, The American Legion and all of those who fought to keep it standing.
Watch highlights from the ceremony and a special interview with First Liberty’s Roger Byron on the importance of this Cross.
Kelly Shackelford joins First Liberty Live’s Stuart Shepard to discuss key victories from the past year, including three potential Supreme Court cases and our best opportunities to expand religious freedom for the next generation.
We need your help to position First Liberty for a strong rest of 2025.
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The President’s newly established Religious Liberty Commission met for the first time. As an appointed member of the Commission, I want to share with you what we discussed and what we hope to accomplish.
The Church of the Open Door in Waco Texas and its pastor Ronnie Holmes have asked for First Liberty’s help in setting Waco’s city leaders straight on the First Amendment.
When Pastor Ronnie and a small group from his church attended a festival in a city park that was open to the public, they found themselves banished far away from the festival to a free speech zone.
Today, we remember D-Day, the sacrifices that were made and the freedoms that were preserved.
Watch Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. (Jerry) Boykin share his thoughts on D-Day and why it’s important to memorialize the sacrifices made by our service members.
Right now, we are seeing waves of legislation from coast to coast requiring either the Ten Commandments or our national motto “In God We Trust” to be displayed in government buildings and public schools.
Watch Patriot Mobile’s Leigh Wambsganss and First Liberty’s Nate Kellum explain why this is happening now and the importance of this moment.
Watch First Liberty’s Jeremy Dys unpack the Johnson Amendment, discuss its overarching impact on faith in America and explain why we should consider repealing it.
We just got a huge first victory for the Encinas family.
Just a year ago, a school in Encinitas, CA used its “Buddy Activity Program” to force its fifth-grade students to deliver a message affirming gender ideology to their younger kindergarten buddies.
When a family asked the school to notify them and provide opt-out opportunities, the school denied their request.
Watch First Liberty attorney Kayla Toney explain what the decision means for the case moving forward.
During the National Day of Prayer ceremony in the Rose Garden, President Trump signed an executive order creating the Presidential Commission on Religious Freedom.
Our President and CEO, Kelly Shackelford, has been appointed to serve on the Commission.
To give you a better understanding of the Commission, Kelly sat down with Stuart Shepard to discuss the appointment and to let you know what you can expect from those serving at the President’s request.
Tarin Swain used her allotted time at her city council to pray, asking God to strengthen opponents in their fight against the implementation of this dangerous policy.
The Ventura Mayor interrupted her, demanding she stop by saying, “We [the City of Ventura] don’t do prayer.”
Watch Tarin Swain and First Liberty attorney Erin Smith discuss this case and learn what we we’re doing to protect Tarin’s right to pray.
Hiram Sasser, Executive General Counsel, breaks down why parental rights are so important for religious liberty in one of our new cases.
Gabriel Olivier is an evangelical Christian who shares his faith with others while standing outside of well-attended events on a public sidewalk in a public park.
To silence Gabriel, the City of Brandon passed an unconstitutional ordinance that Iimits his ability and the ability of others from communicating their religious beliefs to others in a city park.
Watch this interview with First Liberty’s Stephanie Taub. Stephanie, fresh off testifying in support of the Ten Commandments proposed legislation, will share her experience before Arkansas lawmakers and let us know what the future holds for the bill.
Matt Krause explains the bill in Texas to put the Ten Commandments back in the classroom.
Read more about this bill in our latest Insider article >>
The Supreme Court declined to hear the case of Fire Chief Ron Hittle. First Liberty Senior Counsel Stephanie Taub explains why there’s a silver lining in this response from the Court.
America was truly founded because of God’s Providence. It was no accident.
In the 2025 movie The American Miracle: Our Nation is No Accident, it takes us on a journey through some of the most significant events in America’s birth and rise to prosperity and power.
To learn more about this upcoming film, watch this interview with the COO and Executive Producer of Heroic Films, Ralf Augstroze.
We sit down on set with Jack Hibbs, pastor at Calvary Chapel in Southern California, to discuss religious liberty.
Check out Real Life Network >>
We're live from the National Religious Broadcasters Convention with our President, Chief Counsel and CEO, Kelly Shackelford.
We're here at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention. Mike Farris, General Counsel of NRB joins the show!
We're live with Tim Barton, President of WallBuilders at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention.
We're live with Abigail DeJarnatt, founder and CEO of Counteract USA at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention.
We’re live at the National Religious Broadcaster’s convention with First Liberty Counsel, Keisha Russell!
First Liberty has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take the Fire Chief Ron Hittle and the Bethesda University cases.
They will be conferencing on both cases Friday morning.
Will the Supreme Court justices say “Yes?”
Watch First Liberty attorneys Stephanie Taub and Jeremy Dys breakdown these cases and explain why the justices should take them.
Right now, a devoted teacher of 32 years is fighting for her faith – and her job.
Marisol Arroyo-Castro's only "offense"? Refusing to hide a small crucifix at her desk.
After three decades of dedicated service teaching Connecticut's children, school officials gave Marisol an impossible choice: hide her crucifix from view or face discipline. When she couldn't bring herself to hide this expression of her faith, they suspended her without pay.
Watch this interview with First Liberty attorney Becky Dummermuth to get the latest updates on this critically important case.
We sit down with Sean Feucht to discuss his latest album "In God We Trust" and how you can restore faith in America.
Join the challenge >>
In this interview, First Liberty Senior Counsel Stephanie Taub is joined by attorney Randy Wenger of the Independence Law Center to explain what’s going on with Gerald Groff after he won at the U.S. Supreme Court.
President and CEO Kelly Shackelford breaks down some of President Trump's executive orders and what they mean for religious freedom.
Since the founding of our nation, public officials have often quoted scripture for the purpose of encouragement or inspiration.
Citing a quotation from any text – sacred or secular – is completely protected by the free speech clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution.
But the Peoria Unified School District in Arizona has been preventing School Board Member Heather Rooks from exercising that right since 2023.
Watch this interview with First Liberty attorney David Hacker to learn what happened at Friday's hearing and what comes next for Heather.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit heard arguments in our Bangor Christian Schools case.
We urged the First Circuit to reverse a lower court ruling that upheld a Maine law preventing religious schools from participating in the state’s school choice program.
First Liberty’s Jeremy Dys joins us on First Liberty Live! to give an update on what happened inside the court room and why this case is important for the future of religious freedom.
As we close out the year, we are looking ahead to 2025. The challenges that lay ahead are daunting, and the stakes have never been higher.
President and CEO Kelly Shackelford joins us to talk about all the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead and why we should have more hope for the future of religious freedom than ever before.
A fifth-grade teacher at La Costa Heights Elementary School in California read aloud the book, My Shadow is Pink, which urges children to question their own gender identity.
When the parents requested notice and opt-outs from similar teaching in the future, the school district denied their requests.
First Liberty is fighting back to protect the students' right to religious freedom.
We’re coming to you live today from Colorado with an important case update.
The Rock Church in Castle Rock, Colorado recently got great news after filing a federal lawsuit against hostile city officials.
A federal judge will allow the church, in the midst of their lawsuit, to continue its RV ministry that gives people in need temporary shelter.
This is a crucial first victory in their case. But the legal battle in Castle Rock isn’t over.
City officials are criminalizing compassion and trying to stop the church from giving the homeless a place to stay in a pinch, claiming the ministry violates zoning ordinances. Watch Pastor Mike Polhemus as he explains why The Rock Church is feeling called to serve the suddenly homeless and how they continue to work to fulfill their mission.
What are people of faith called to do this election season? And how are churches and pastors allowed to act in the political sphere?
To answer your questions and offer a free resource for all churches and pastors, First Liberty attorney Jeremy Dys dives into this crucial topic. You won’t want to miss it!
Download our FREE election resources here >>
The state of Maine provides funds for school tuition to all Maine families who live in rural areas and do not have access to a public school for their children. It gives these families school choice.
But Maine legislators have made it impossible for families to use the funds for a religious education.
To learn more about our recent appeal to the First Circuit Court of Appeals, watch this interview with Senior Counsel David Hacker. He dives into the case details and why this defense of the Carson v. Makin precedent is so critical.
Coach Joe Kennedy’s film, Average Joe, premieres in theaters beginning October 10th. It focuses on his biggest battle: his commitment to stand for God publicly by taking a knee in prayer after each football game.
When he was fired for living out his faith, Joe and his wife Denise knew this battle for religious freedom and the rights of all Americans was one they would have to fight. You can show your support for Coach Joe and religious freedom by going to the movies on opening weekend.
Buy Tickets Now >>
Less than a month ago, President Biden introduced us to his plan to reform the Supreme Court. He wants us to believe that his “common sense” approach is needed to fix the Court. That’s why First Liberty recently commissioned a poll. We wanted you to see exactly what the average voting American thinks about the Biden court “reform” scheme.
In this episode, First Liberty attorney Hiram Sasser explains the poll results and how they will impact the future of the Supreme Court.
Join over 500,000 patriots and say NO to the Supreme Court Coup >>
On August 1, Majority Leader Schumer & 23 Senators introduced the deceptively named “No Kings Act.” The name may be clever and sound innocent enough, but that is far from the truth.
This legislation would not only delegitimize the highest court in the nation, it would completely undermine the Constitution.
To help you understand what this legislation will mean for the future of our country, watch this crucial message from First Liberty President and CEO Kelly Shackelford.
Say NO tot the Supreme Court Coup >>
Today’s episode of First Liberty Live! features great insight and stories from one of our top lawyers as well as a highly respected legal professor.
Listen to volunteer attorney Allyson Ho and professor Josh Blackman give expert analysis on the most pressing issues regarding our First Freedom now.
President Biden unveiled his plan for sweeping and radical changes to the Supreme Court.
Don’t be fooled. President Biden’s court “reform” scheme is nothing more than a desperate attack to end the legitimacy of the Supreme Court.
To discern the specifics of Biden’s attempted Supreme Court Coup, First Liberty Live! is bringing you expert analysis of this dangerous plan from our Chief Legal Officer Jeff Mateer.
Say NO to the Supreme Court Coup >>
This week on First Liberty Live! we’re joined by Professor John Yoo, the Emanuel Heller Professor of Law at the University of California at Berkeley.
As one of our nation’s foremost experts on the Constitution and the separation of powers, he explains how this important document would have been interpreted at our founding and why an independent judiciary is so important.
Learn more about the Supreme Court Coup >>
As people of faith, today’s world is becoming increasingly more difficult to navigate. And this is especially true in our digital age.
One person of faith who boldly shares her perspective despite the noise online is Allie Beth Stuckey. As a wife, mom and host of the podcast Relatable, she understands the importance of viewing current issues through a Biblical worldview.
Listen to her share about leading the way in faith in the digital age on this episode.
America’s elite fighting force is still battling against religious discrimination.
As we approach their hearing on the settlement of their lawsuit on July 24th, today’s First Liberty Live! episode with attorney Danielle Runyan will give you a case update.
After 50 years of using the bad legal precedent, America is in a new era of freedom. Because of Coach Kennedy's win, courts must decide religious liberty cases through the lens of a “history and tradition” test.
For a better understanding of the history and tradition test, Tim Barton, president of Wallbuilders and an expert in American history, breaks down how our nation’s past will determine how religious expression plays out in the public square today.
This week, Louisiana became the first state requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all public schools and colleges.
To break down the legal arguments behind this new law, First Liberty Live! talks to attorney Matt Krause—an independent legal and policy advisor to First Liberty. Matt recently testified at the Ohio legislature in support of a similar bill to the one Louisiana just passed.
The enemies of faith are taking notice: people of faith are standing up for their beliefs and winning back their constitutional freedoms.
And they don’t like these victories one bit.
Because we win, the attorneys and staff at First Liberty along with our brave clients draw a lot of attention… both positive and negative.
You see, anti-faith Leftists in the media choose to mischaracterize and misrepresent our work and the people of faith we help.
That’s why I’ve asked First Liberty’s Chief Legal Office to clear up the misconceptions generated by recent articles like Slate Magazine’s “The Religious Right Isn’t Hiding What It’s Doing in the Courts.”
Right now, there’s a war waging over our culture. And many of us feel like we can’t make a difference in this fight. But a group of everyday Americans are taking a stand for faith. And you can join them.
We call it, the Future of Faith and Freedom or F3. F3 is dedicated to helping these up-and-coming generations learn how they can move the needle for faith in an impactful and meaningful way.
Listen to F3 Leaders Nathan Shackelford and Shaun Frederickson explain this growing movement and how it will shape our nation for generations to come.
Learn more about this exciting initiative >>
In all the years in the fight for faith and freedom, there hasn’t been a week at First Liberty busier than last week!
We had some major wins come through by God’s grace, as well as some disappointing setbacks.
To give you the full rundown on all of the last week’s decisions, Chief Legal Officer Jeff Mateer will explain what happened and what the outcomes in these cases mean for you and our clients.
With Memorial Day less than a week away, we wanted to take a few minutes to honor those who have bravely defended our country.
This weekend is a time to remember and pray for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.
Attorney and US Air Force member Danielle Runyan will join us on First Liberty Live! to talk about the cases we are fighting right now for military service members.
HaYovel is a Christian, faith-based ministry that supports Israeli grape farmers. The ministry has organized The Israel Summit, a pro-Israel conference.
Just days before the event, however, the Sonesta Nashville Airport hotel breached the contract and canceled the Summit.
Lead First Liberty attorney Hiram Sasser joins Live this afternoon for a question and answer session with host Stuart Shepard.
Add Your Name to Say No to Fear >>
In this episode we continue our Election 2024 series by asking Dr. Albert Mohler about how people of faith can participate in politics even beyond the polls. Dr. Mohler is the president of one of the largest seminary schools in the world, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also the host of two podcasts, an author, speaker and teacher.
In this episode he will explain the critical role that people of faith play in civic engagement. And that goes far beyond the election day on November 5th.
Hear from our President, CEO & Chief Counsel Kelly Shackelford on the importance of people of faith getting out to vote. Plus, you’ll learn about the rights of churches and pastors during the election season.
Check out our Election 2024 resources >>
First Liberty client LifeWise Academy is an education program available to public schools that teaches the Bible to students who might never be exposed to it otherwise–during school hours.
LifeWise is currently being attacked by both the Freedom from Religion Foundation and the leftist media.
The notoriously anti-faith Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) recently sent a letter to 600 school districts in Ohio “warning” school officials about the mission of LifeWise Academy.
Listen to LifeWise Academy Founder and CEO Joel Penton explain how this program is making a positive impact in communities across the country and what First Liberty is doing to make sure that it’s protected from attacks.
For the third time in the past few weeks, First Liberty is facing off against city officials for taking an unconstitutional approach to shut down a house of worship.
In New Hampshire, the Town of Weare has used zoning laws to prevent Grace New England Church from meeting on Pastor Howard Kaloogian’s property.
In response to the town’s hostility, First Liberty filed a federal lawsuit to protect Pastor Howard’s and Grace New England Church’s right to meet and to worship.
Listen to attorney Jeremy Dys break down the shocking details of this case and what we are doing to stop this unconstitutional demand from the town.
When 5th grade student Laura at Creekside Elementary requested permission to start an interfaith prayer club, the school’s principal denied her request.
Despite having approved and promoted other clubs like the Creekside Choir, Global Reading Challenge, Green Team, Safety Patrol and Pride Club, the principal told Laura that her only option for a prayer group was to pay for space like outside groups.
Hear from Laura first-hand and learn how this fight has impacted her faith as well as her vision for the prayer club that’s being denied.
A city in Arizona is making it impossible for a church to care for the most vulnerable in their community. First Liberty is representing Pastor Jose Castro and Gethsemani Baptist Church of San Luis, AZ in a case you won’t believe.
Joining First Liberty Live! today is Senior Counsel Jeremy Dys to discuss the unbelievable facts of this case and what we are doing to put a stop to this discrimination.
Learn more about this case >>
How should we engage with modern culture?
Dr. Stephen Presley, a Senior Fellow at First Liberty’s Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy, gives a helpful perspective on approaching today’s culture shift in his new book, Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the World Like the Early Church.
On today’s episode of First Liberty Live!, you'll hear from Dr. Presley about the importance of this perspective as we look back at the great religious leaders who were determined to impact the culture.
Gunna Kristofersdottir was fired for her religious beliefs. Why? CVS has revoked all religious accommodations that allowed providers to give hormonal contraceptive drugs.
Gunna stood up for her faith and was fired for it.
On today’s episode of First Liberty Live!, you will get to hear Gunna’s story firsthand. Learn how she is bravely standing up for her rights and how she’s fighting back against this unlawful termination.
With election season rapidly heating up, our special guest today has a message for American voters like you who deeply care about their faith informing their politics.
The Founder and President of Christians Engaged, Bunni Pounds, joins First Liberty Live! to talk about how you can navigate this huge election year.
Bunni worked as a political consultant and campaign manager, spent time on Capitol Hill, and even ran for office herself.
While many people say that faith has no place in politics, Bunni disagrees wholeheartedly. And on this episode, she unpacks how we can use our faith as an empowering motive in our vote.
We have been fighting for several devout Muslim families who fled from war-torn Somalia to America.
Among the most significant reasons why they sought refuge in the United States were religious freedom and educational opportunities for their children.
But when these parents asked to opt their elementary school children out of LGBTQ books in English class, they were met with hostility.
The school district claimed that its curriculum sought “to be inclusive and reflect the diversity” of their students. But apparently its version of “diversity and inclusion” didn’t apply to religious parents.
Thankfully, these parents took a stand against this religious discrimination and won! They are now free to opt their children OUT of this woke content that goes against their religious beliefs.
Hodan Hassan, one of the brave moms, joins First Liberty Live! to discuss the fight with the school district and how the families took back their First Amendment rights.
Professor Varkey faithfully taught Human Anatomy and Physiology for nearly two decades at St. Philips College.
Then, the college fired him. In his termination letter, the school said they received “numerous complaints” about his “offensive” and “unacceptable religious preaching” in the classroom.
But Dr. Varkey fought back against this wrongful termination and won! Now, he is going back in the fall to continue doing what he loves: teaching science.
In celebration of this major victory, Dr. Varkey joins First Liberty Live! to talk about this fight and why it was a critical win for truth and freedom.
His Tabernacle Family Church, led by Pastor Micheal Spencer, just got a huge win in court for their first and second amendment rights.
They challenged a New York law that prohibited firearms at places of worship. The hypocrisy of this law was that it allowed most secular establishments, like Home Depot or a local diner, to decide for if patrons can defend themselves. But houses of worship couldn’t.
Pastor Micheal discusses how he not only protected his flock but defended American freedoms by standing strong against New York’s unconstitutional law.
We are happy to announce that White Rock Chapel has just won back the right to restore its sanctuary after they were met with hostility and denied the right to meet.
To celebrate this important victory, property owner Dr. Don Wesson joins First Liberty Live! to share about the vision and future of the church now that they are free to worship at last!
This week on First Liberty Live! we are talking about how religious discrimination impacts employees of faith in the workplace.
When the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office issued a vaccine mandate, Assistant DA Rachel Spivack requested a religious accommodation. Her Orthodox Jewish faith prohibits her from receiving any vaccines.
The DA’s office denied Rachel’s request and fired her for failing to comply with their mandate. But 11 other staff members were allowed to continue working without being vaccinated.
Attorney Lea Patterson lays out the outrageous details of Rachel’s case and explains how we’re defending her.
This week on First Liberty Live! you’ll get to go inside the courtroom for Aaron and Melissa Klein’s argument at the Oregon Court of Appeals.
The Kleins, owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, are seeking justice after the government effectively forced them to close their business for running it according to their faith.
We’re asking the Oregon Court to right their wrong and recognize Aaron and Melissa’s constitutional rights.
Right now, antisemitism is on the rise. Jewish people in America are facing newly sparked opposition thanks to the ongoing conflict in Israel.
But because of faithful supporters like you, we have some good news to report.
This week on First Liberty Live! we are diving into several recent victories for our Jewish clients that you may not know about.
FLI attorney Ryan Gardner joins Stuart Shepard to discuss our recent wins and how we have the opportunity for an even greater victory for the Jewish people ahead of us.
This week on First Liberty Live! we talk with Pastor Chris Avell about why he is being criminally charged for opening his church to minister to the underserved people in his town.
The city of Bryan, Ohio says he’s breaking the law because he opened Dad’s Place Church 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to serve his community, including anyone looking for a place to come in out of the cold.
This week on First Liberty Live! we’re talking about why this Washington D.C. metro bus ad was rejected for being “too Christian.”
The organization behind the ad, WallBuilders, seeks to educate people about America’s forgotten history and heroes. The ad this organization created shows our founding father George Washington with the question “Christian?” written across the front. Because of this, it was canceled.
First Liberty’s Jeremy Dys shares the details about Washington D.C.’s outrageous censorship. He explains how this is a seemingly blatant violation of free speech and what we’re doing to stop it.
As we close out December, we begin to look ahead to the upcoming year. The challenges that lay ahead are daunting, and the stakes have never been higher.
In 2024, we’ll be facing off against multibillion dollar corporations, an out-of-control government, and anti-faith groups that will stop at nothing to silence your faith.
But we know to fear not. God has been preparing us for such a time as this.
This week on First Liberty Live! Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO and Chief Counsel, discusses the upcoming year. He’ll unpack all the opportunities and challenges it will provide and why we should have more hope for the future of religious freedom than ever before.
If you want to know how you can be praying and supporting First Liberty, this episode is an essential holiday watch.
Don’t miss our last episode of the year!
2023 has been an incredible year for religious freedom. Together, we’ve completely changed the landscape in the fight for faith.
This year alone, we’ve won for houses of worship, synagogues, health care workers and all employees of faith.
Today, our Chief Legal Officer Jeff Mateer joins First Liberty Live! to recap this historic year by discussing the cases that have impacted religious freedom the most.
From our Supreme Court win that redefined religious accommodations in the workplace to our recent victory at the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals that impacted all New York houses of worship, Jeff will provide his unique insight into the meaning behind these wins.
Check out today’s episode to learn why 2023 was a pivotal year for religious freedom.
Double the impact of your gift with our $600,000 Matching Grant when you give by Dec. 31 »
It’s getting close to Christmas and that means that First Liberty is celebrating the best way we know how – by recapping our greatest holiday victories!
Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO and Chief Counsel, joins today’s show to discuss some of our biggest cases from years past that directly involve Christmas and the holidays. You’ll hear about a student banned from handing out candy canes, kids prevented from singing Christmas carols and more.
Plus, you’ll hear about how you can live out your faith this holiday season.
Today on First Liberty Live!, our dear friend Coach Joe Kennedy joins us to fill us in on how life after coaching is treating him. You’ll hear him share stories from his new book Average Joe.
From his time in the Marines through his journey to find the path that God created for him, Joe shares candidly about what he learned about faith along the way.
You won’t want to miss this timely update from the coach that took a stand for faith by taking a knee in prayer.
fter the Biden Administration illegally instituted a rule that requires the VA to perform abortions, Nurse Practitioner Stephanie Carter sought a religious accommodation.
And when the VA informed Stephanie twice that there was not an accommodation process, Stephanie took a courageous stand for faith.
Today on First Liberty Live!, FLI Senior Counsel Danielle Runyan shares the story of how this one woman’s stand for faith forced the VA to create a nationwide accommodation process for all its practitioners with religious objections to performing abortions and abortion-related services.
You won’t want to miss this David vs. Goliath story as we truly see how God used Stephanie’s faith to provide relief for all religious employees at the VA.
On this episode of First Liberty Live!, we’re introducing you to our Practice Group Leaders – Stephanie Taub, Mike Berry, Justin Butterfield, Lea Patterson and Jeremy Dys.
First Liberty’s mission is to defend religious liberty for all Americans, and with your help, we do that through what we call our Practice Groups.
Our practice groups are defined by the 5 areas we fight for faith which are the Marketplace, the Military, Education, the Public Arena, and Religious Institutions.
You won’t want to miss this episode as each of our leads take turns delivering messages about their specific practice areas and share the thanks they feel your for your faithful support.
This year, we’re celebrating 30 years of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Chuck Schumer and Ted Kennedy sponsored the bill and President Bill Clinton signed it into law.
And today at First Liberty, we love the protections that RFRA is still providing for people of faith.
For RFRA’s anniversary, Kelly Shackelford joins us on this week’s Live! to talk about the impact of this law on religious freedom.
Kelly will share how this significant piece of legislation became law, discuss historic rulings that have come from it and update you on how RFRA continues to protect religious freedom today.
Saturday November 11th is Veterans Day. In honor of their sacrifices, we at First Liberty wish to thank all veterans and current service members for their service and to encourage all Americans to live lives worthy of their many sacrifices.
Today, we’re hosting a very special episode of First Liberty Live! with our very own veteran and Marine Reservist Mike Berry.
In his civilian capacity, Mike shares his perspective on how the military’s hostility towards faith is negatively impacting its ability to recruit and retain service members.
And as bonus, Mike will give us some timely case updates on The Navy SEALs, VA Nurse Stephanie Carter and Space Force Reservist Jace Yarbrough.
This week on First Liberty Live! you’ll get to hear from Tonya Prewett, one of the organizers for a college campus revival ministry called Unite Auburn.
This night of worship for college students at Auburn University brought thousands of students together. Some even got baptized at the event. But, it caused a negative outcry after football coach Hugh Freeze assisted in the baptism of one of his players during the revival event.
First Liberty Live! host Stuart Shepard asks Tonya about the event and how other colleges are trying to exercise their religious liberty by organizing similar revivals. You won’t want to miss this episode!
This week on First Liberty Live! we’re talking about how we’re defending religious education in California.
The state is blocking families from using state homeschool funds because these families choose to use a faith-based curriculum.
That’s wrong. It’s also unconstitutional.
First Liberty’s Justin Butterfield joins us to explain how our Supreme Court victory in Carson v. Makin impacts this fight. He’ll unpack how the government can’t exclude families in state funding programs when it comes to religious education.
Get the latest update on our federal lawsuit to stop California’s blatant discrimination. You don’t want to miss it!
This week on First Liberty Live! you’ll get to know our client Jace Yarbrough. This patriot’s military career as a reservist in the United States Space Force is on the verge of ruin. He’s being punished for something he said as a civilian at a small private retirement ceremony that he presided over for a close friend in his off-duty capacity.
Motivated by his religious beliefs, Jace quoted prominent Christian Soviet dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn, widely known for his powerful essay titled, “Live Not by Lies.” Jace’s speech warned about dishonesty and a growing cancel culture in our country, including in the military.
First Liberty’s Danielle Runyan joins us to unpack this case. Don’t miss hearing about Jace’s story and what we’re doing to stop censorship in the Space Force.
With school back in full swing, students, teachers and parents are hard at work – but so are the enemies of faith.
On this week’s Live!, we sit down with our new client, Heather Rooks, who was sent a cease-and-desist letter after quoting Bible verses at a Peoria School Board meeting.
Heather shares what happened and why she brings faith into her role as a school board member. We’re also joined by First Liberty’s Hiram Sasser, who will unpack the case and explain why all public employees have a right to express their beliefs.
You won’t want to miss this new case update!
This week on First Liberty Live! we’re talking about how we’re standing with Auburn’s football coach Hugh Freeze.
Anti-religion activists are coming hard after Coach Freeze. Why? Because he went to “Unite Auburn,” an after-hours worship event.
They’re upset because he participated in one of his player’s baptisms. To be clear, the student asked Coach Freeze if he would help baptize him.
In this episode, you’ll get a complete update from First Liberty’s Jeremy Dys and hear how our precedent-setting Supreme Court victory for Joe Kennedy protects Coach Freeze.
Learn more about Auburn Football Coach Hugh Freeze >>
This week, the First Liberty Live! team is checking in from Family Research Council’s Pray, Vote, Stand conference in our nation’s capital.
During the conference, First Liberty’s Matt Krause stopped by to discuss the next steps you can take to help Restore Faith in America. This growing movement of hope is the means to expand your religious liberty throughout your community in ways it hasn’t been allowed in the last 50 years.
We also received a surprise visit from Jacob Kersey. Jacob, the Georgia police officer who was forced to resign after he was told he couldn’t share religious beliefs on his social media account, joined to us to provide an update on how he’s advocating for our First Freedom from Washington, D.C.
Learn more about Restoring Faith in your community »
Read about Jacob Kersey’s fight for faith »
We’re visiting a historic black church in Texas that is facing backlash from city officials who are blocking the church from renovating their building.
First Liberty attorney Jeremy Dys joins us to unpack this case and explain how our First Amendment protects the right of this congregation to operate free from government interference.
Plus, you won’t want to miss our touching interview with church leadership Dr. Donald and Mrs. Wanda Wesson.
What would you do if you were asked to stop praying – in your own home? That’s what happened to Rabbi Levi Illulian when the City of Beverly Hills targeted him for having religious gatherings at his house.
City officials sent Rabbi Levi a letter of violation when neighbors complained about him hosting family and friends to pray and observe Shabbat. Officials further harassed him by staking out his home and taking pictures of his guests.
First Liberty attorney Ryan Gardner will unpack the details on this new case and explain how we’re defending Rabbi Levi’s right to live out his faith.
This year, we are honoring our client Kenny Vaughan with the Onderdonk Religious Liberty Award. This award is presented at the American Legion National Convention held in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Kenny continues to fight for Shields of Strength, his faith-based company that graciously provides replica dog tags with inspirational Bible verses to active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and their families.
The American Legion also honors First Liberty with the prestigious Distinguished Service Medal. This is the highest award bestowed by The Legion.
Learn more about Kenny Vaughan’s Onderdonk Religious Liberty Award »
Learn more about First Liberty’s Distinguished Service Medal »
On September 1st, Coach Joe Kennedy is returning to the football field to take a knee in prayer. For this historic night, we have issued the First Freedom Challege asking coaches, players, parents and fans all over the country to join him in a national night of prayer from wherever they are.
But how does the First Freedom Challege work? Do you have to go to a football field to participate? Can you pray in the stands? What are the current rules about coaches praying with their students?
In today’s episode of First Liberty Live!, we’ll answer your most pressing questions about the First Freedom Challenge. Plus, you’ll hear some new updates about Coach Joe before he goes to a knee next week.
Take the First Freedom Challenge >>
In this week’s episode, we’re talking to the President of the Heritage Foundation, Kevin Roberts. His role as a leader and insider in D.C. gives him a unique perspective on how to make better public policy and how we can restore religious freedom in our nation.
He’ll unpack the challenges of working in D.C. and why it is so critical for the mission of the Heritage Foundation to continue. You won’t want to miss this episode of Leading the Way!
In today’s episode, we’re talking with the former Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs, Robert Wilkie. Because of his role, he has special insight into the current status of our military and the problems it currently faces.
He’ll break down why religious freedom is slowly on the decline in our military and how we can work to create better policies that preserve the heritage and traditions of faith for all service members.
On First Liberty Live!, you’ll hear from our Supreme Court winner and former client, Coach Joe Kennedy on what his experience has been returning to his old job at Bremerton High School.
On September 1st, Coach Joe is returning to the football field for the very first time since he was fired. And in honor of this monumental evening, we’re having a national night of prayer to celebrate our First Freedom.
We’re asking coaches, players, parents and fans nationwide to go to a knee in personal private prayer on Friday, September 1st. Be sure to join the First Freedom Challenge to pledge your support.
First Liberty Live! is on the road this summer with a brand-new series: Leading the Way. We’re interviewing some of the nation’s top leaders on how they encourage religious freedom in their respective fields.
In our first episode, we’re talking with Kevin Sorbo, star of Hercules, Andromeda and God’s Not Dead. He talks being a person of faith in Hollywood and how his stance got him kicked out.
He’ll also discuss how important it is to stand up for your faith and how he’s leading the charge to bring quality entertainment to families across the country.
Don’t miss the first episode of Leading the Way!
Two Christian high schools in Florida wanted to pray before their state championship game. But their prayer was canceled when they were told they couldn’t pray over the loudspeaker.
After having their prayer sidelined, First Liberty stepped in to restore the rights of Cambridge Christian School.
Recently, we argued for Cambridge in federal appeals court. On today’s First Liberty Live!, we sit down with Senior Counsel Jeremy Dys to explain why this case is so important and what happened at the recent oral argument.
Learn about this case >>
Curious to know how much religious freedom is in your state?
Last year, First Liberty’s initiative, the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy (CRCD), launched the Religious Liberty in the States Index. This project compares the vibrancy of free exercise across America and includes a ranking of each state.
In today’s episode, tune in to the exclusive reveal of the 2023 rankings to hear where your state falls. Presented by Trey Dimsdale, Director of the CRCD, this episode will explain the importance of the Index and how you can use it to make your state even more free.
View the full state rankings >>
Last week we won not one but two Supreme Court victories! Right now, Americans can celebrate more religious freedom than ever before.
Today, we’re joined by our President, Chief Counsel and CEO Kelly Shackelford to discuss these historic victories. He’ll break down how our religious freedom has changed for the better and what Americans can do with this new freedom.
He’ll also discuss how these victories have angered the radical left and how First Liberty is working to stop their attempts to delegitimize the Court. Don’t miss today’s episode.
In case you missed it, this week the U.S. Supreme Court handed down the opinion in Groff v. Dejoy – also known as our Faithful Carrier case. The Court granted a victory to former postal carrier Gerald Groff after he lost his job for observing the Sunday Sabbath.
In an unanimous decision, the Court strengthened legal protections for employees seeking religious accommodations. The far-reaching decision affects employment rights at every workplace with at least 15 employees in every state in the country.
We’ll be joined by Executive General Counsel Hiram Sasser, Independence Law Center’s Randy Wenger, and Gerald Groff himself to break down exactly what the opinion says. You won’t want to miss this special episode to learn more about how this case restores religious freedom to every American in the workplace.
Learn More About This Victory >>
We so excited to be celebrating the anniversary of Coach Kennedy’s win at the Supreme Court with you on our inaugural First Freedom Day!
Today, June 27, marks the anniversary of this historic success at the nation’s highest court.
To celebrate First Freedom Day, we’re hosting a special episode of First Liberty Live! to talk about our Supreme Court victories and what it means for people of faith all across America.
Learn more: First Freedom Day >>
Did you know you could be fired for doing your job? That’s what Dr. Johnson Varkey found out when he was teaching biology at St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, Texas.
After 20 years of teaching with no disciplinary action, he was fired for teaching that biological sex comes from X and Y chromosomes.
On today’s episode of First Liberty Live! you’ll get to hear in his own words what happened to him – and what First Liberty is doing to defend his rights.
Thanks to First Liberty’s Supreme Court victories, Americans have a legal foundation to restore religious freedom in their communities.
On today’s episode of First Liberty Live!, we go on location to interview several Texas residents who are donating “In God We Trust” posters to their local public schools.
Don’t miss this special episode! You’ll get to hear their heart behind their work and learn how you can legally help restore faith and religious expression in our schools.
First Liberty attorney Ryan Gardner joins us this week on First Liberty Live! to talk about The Father’s House Sober Living – a ministry in Westmoreland, Tennessee that is facing discrimination from the government.
Government officials are violating state and federal laws to coerce The Father’s House to make building renovations costing upwards of $85,000. To make matters worse, a rouge power company even cut off the ministry’s power at one point.
Today, Ryan outlines how we are defending The Father’s House so they can go back to providing housing and support for men seeking to escape drug addiction. You won’t want to miss this case update.
Mark David Hall is a fellow for the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy, and professor at George Fox University. He joins this week’s First Liberty Live! to discuss his latest book, Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land.
On today’s episode, Mark David Hall will delve into the intersection of religion and America’s founding and uncover the profound impact of faith on our nation’s history. You won’t want to miss this insightful conversation.
On Monday, the nation will take a day of rest to remember those who served and gave their lives for our country.
Today, we’re joined by Director of Military Affairs, Mike Berry, as he shares the importance of celebrating Memorial Day – including ways you can honor the fallen this year.
Don’t miss this special episode.
With First Liberty’s multiple U.S. Supreme Court victories, we now face a new opportunity unlike any in our lifetime. Together, we can bring public expressions of faith back to our communities and restore faith across the country.
But how can you bring about this type of change in your hometown?
On today’s episode of First Liberty Live!, we’re joined by Matt Krause, a former Texas state representative and expert on First Liberty’s Restoring Faith in America project. He’ll unpack how we’re starting a movement to bring faith back into the public square – and how you can be a part of it.
Learn more about Restoring Faith in America >>
The Biden administration has been nominating judges to the federal bench at an historic rate. How will these judges rule? Will they respect religious freedom?
On today’s episode of First Liberty Live!, Carrie Severino, President of the Judicial Crisis Network, will unpack what’s going on with Biden’s judicial nominees and what you need to know. It’ll be an insightful and informative conversation you won’t want to miss.
This week, we are sitting down with Turning Point USA founder and President, Charlie Kirk. With his work at Turning Point, he has developed a special insight into today’s college student.
In this episode, Charlie will share his insights on why this is such a critical time on college campuses throughout America and what he believes today’s college students are thinking about faith and liberty.
Don’t miss this episode with Charlie!
Learn more about Turning Point USA >>
Last week, we argued at the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of Gerald Groff – our Faithful Carrier. Kelly Shackelford, President CEO and Chief Counsel, and Jeff Mateer, Chief Legal Officer, were in the courtroom when it happened.
Today, they join First Liberty Live! to give exclusive insights on what it’s like inside the courtroom, along with a discussion of the arguments presented in the case.
Watch the Oral Argument >>
Learn more about this case >>
In this special episode, you’ll hear from guest Jeremy Samek, Senior Counsel with the Independence Law Center & the Pennsylvania Family Institute. He’ll give a preview on what you’ll hear inside the courtroom for the Groff v. DeJoy argument.
Then, we’ll take you inside the Supreme Court to hear all of the proceedings.
Learn more about this case >>
Watch the post-argument analysis >>
Heartbeat of Miami is a faith-based pregnancy resource center which helps support women and parents. And for its work? Its’ building has been defaced and spray-painted, its’ annual gala was crashed by vandals, and its’ employees have been harassed.
First Liberty is taking a stand for Heartbeat of Miami and pressing charges against the group behind these attacks: Jane’s Revenge.
This week on First Liberty Live!, Senior Counsel Jeremy Dys breaks down why these actions are so unlawful and what First Liberty is doing to combat these threats.
Learn more about this case >>
Mike Pompeo, former U.S. Secretary of the State and Director of the CIA, is a committed religious freedom advocate and strong man of faith. While he was in office, he fought for freedom across the world.
This week on First Liberty Live!, watch a special Q&A between him and our President, CEO, and Chief Counsel, Kelly Shackelford.
You’ll hear insights from his time in the White House along with special stories you won’t want to miss!
Buy Mike Pompeo's book >>
First, we took you to the frontlines of our Faith Under Fire case at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Now, we’re breaking down what happened during the argument.
Vice President of Litigation, David Hacker joins the show to unpack the arguments presented and where this case goes next.
Watch the full argument livestream here >>
We’re taking you inside the 9th Circuit for the U.S. Court of Appeals with our Ron Hittle case. You’ll hear why this case is so important and then we’ll play you the full oral argument.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to prepare for the U.S. Supreme Court?
Meet our co-counsel, Randy Wenger and Alan Reinach. Together we’ll take our Faithful Carrier case to the Supreme Court in April. They’ll discuss what goes into prepping for the highest court in the land.
With decades of experience litigating at the highest levels, Randy and Alan are uniquely qualified to walk you through their preparations for next month’s oral argument.
Learn more about Gerald Groff >>
Have you felt like woke ideology is slowly taking over American thought? That faith is on the decline while secularism reigns supreme?
Noelle Mering has asked those same questions. As a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, she has tracked the rise of woke culture in America.
She joins First Liberty Live! to discuss her recent book, Awake, Not Woke. In today’s episode, she’ll unpack this shift in culture and how it effects our religious freedom.
Buy Noelle's book here >>
Fire Chief Ron Hittle was a dedicated first responder for almost 25 years. When he attended a world class leadership conference with a few of his team members, he was fired.
His crime? The conference was held at a church.
In this episode you’ll hear his story and why he was so passionate about his job as a first responder. Attorney Stephanie Taub also joins to discuss our next legal steps in the case and why we must protect people of faith in the workplace.
When an Arizona library denied Ricardo Frias the opportunity to host a reading of Kirk Cameron’s book As You Grow, First Liberty stepped in to set the library straight.
Kirk himself understands this discrimination only too well as more than 50 libraries across the nation have denied his requests to host an As You Grow story hour.
Today on First Liberty Live!, Kirk Cameron joins us to discuss why this sets a distressing precedent of the censorship of people of faith and how it’s time for us to take back the hearts and minds of children throughout America.
Buy Kirk's book here >>
When police officer Jacob Kersey posted on his social media about his religious beliefs, he assumed it was private religious speech. His supervisors at the Port Wentworth police department, however, gave him the choice: either take down the post or lose your job.
Jacob shares his story and explains why he is standing up to these officials’ blatant attempts to silence his faith.
Christine Pratt, FLI Counsel, also will join to discuss the legal implications of this case and why it is critical to fight on behalf of our first responders.
Which state has the most religious protections in America? That’s the question the Religious Liberty in the States Index sought to answer. Director of Research at the Center for Religion Culture & Democracy, Jordan Ballor, joins First Liberty Live! to discuss this project and what’s the top state.
Curious where your state falls and want to know more about the Index?
Visit the Religious Liberty in the States website >>
Watch the uncut oral argument from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in our Navy SEALs case. Plus, Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO and Chief Counsel was outside the court explaining what you’re going to hear.
After completing his service as a justice on the Arizona Supreme Court, Andy Gould chose to become a member of First Liberty’s expert legal team and be First in the Fight for religious freedom. Learn why Andy is standing for faith and fighting for our first freedom in this week’s episode of First Liberty Live!
As one of the top lawyers in the country, Gould served on the Arizona Supreme Court for over five years. Today he is excited to serve his country in a new way by serving on the First Liberty team.
Be sure to watch today’s episode to hear Justice Gould’s story.
Feel like America is slowly losing its’ faith? Want to know how we can return to a time when we were a ‘more perfect union’?
This week on First Liberty Live! we are joined by Tim Goeglein, the VP of External and Government Relations for Focus on the Family, to discuss his new book on the value of morals and faith in America.
As a former member of the George W. Bush White House, Goeglein holds unrivaled insights into our current moment in history and how we can restore faith across America.
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will hear our case involving Gerald Groff, a postal worker who was wrongly forced to quit his job because of his religious beliefs.
Senior Counsel Stephanie Taub joins this week’s First Liberty Live! to discuss this case and the implications that a victory at the Supreme Court could have on millions of people of faith in the workplace.
You won’t want to miss this exciting episode and hear how First Liberty is going back to the Supreme Court.
Learn more about this case >>
Robyn Strader, a highly educated nurse practitioner, was fired from CVS Pharmacy for her faith and for pushing back against the “woke” ideals of CVS. First Liberty stepped in and this week filed an official lawsuit against CVS for religious discrimination.
Robyn joins the show to share her story and explain her heart behind the decision to take on CVS. Christine Pratt, counsel, also appears in the episode to unpack the legal implications behind the case and the precedent it could set for the future.
Be sure to watch this episode to hear more about how people of faith are standing against woke corporations.
Learn more about Robyn's case here >>
Have you been intimidated to talk to your friends about the Respect for Marriage Act? Have you wondered how it is going to hurt religious freedom and people of faith? And have you wondered what you can do about it?
This week on First Liberty Live!, we’re joined by Ryan Anderson, CEO of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, to discuss the religious liberty implications of the Respect for Marriage Act. He’ll break down the best ways to answer these pressing questions – and how to defend marriage.
Don’t miss this great episode and be sure to share it with your friends and family.
As we close out 2022, it’s time to look ahead to see what the new year holds for faith in America. Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO & Chief Counsel joins today’s Live! episode to discuss current cases, new legal matters and key initiatives to come in 2023.
After a year of unprecedented victories, we have the opportunity to restore faith in America like never before. Kelly will discuss how First Liberty is directing this fight as we enter 2023 and how you can help restore freedom in your community.
2022 has been the biggest year in First Liberty’s history. In fact, in just December alone, we have five key victories which include wins for two nativity scenes and a Christmas program.
Plus, with TWO precedent setting Supreme Court victories, we are winning back ground in a time when the attacks across our country are becoming more and more fierce.
Chief Legal Officer Jeff Mateer joins Live! to sum up this historic year and highlight some of our biggest and best victories. Plus, he’ll break down some cases you probably don’t know about!
Babylon Bee, the Christian news satire website was banned from Twitter for almost eight months. Cancel culture and censorship are coming for people of faith and Seth Dillon, CEO of the Bee, joins First Liberty Live! to discuss this recent culture shift.
He’ll explain how the Babylon Bee was canceled and what people of faith can do in this new culture. Dillon will also discuss how First Liberty helped the Bee and how we must not be silent despite these new threats.
This Sunday, we’re releasing an exciting new animated video called No Better Letter. This video tells the true story of how Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Church explaining the wall of separation between church and state.
Howard Goldthwaite, Senior Creative Director, is on First Liberty Live! this week to talk about the creation of the video and why it is so important to American history. He’ll help clear up misconceptions about the letter and explain why it’s so important to share this video with your friends and family.
Watch No Better Letter premier on December 11th at 7 pm CST >>
For years, Judge Wayne Mack was hounded by the Freedom from Religion Foundation because he allowed for voluntary chaplains of all faiths to open his courtroom in prayer.
First Liberty has been defending Judge Mack for over six years and a few weeks ago, he finally won his case. This week on First Liberty Live!, Judge Mack joins the show to share his gratitude for his win and show how First Liberty helped him get there.
Justin Butterfield, First Liberty Deputy General Counsel, will explain the case in detail and unpack how this case will impact Americans of faith.
Read the 5th Circuit Court Opinion here >> https://tinyurl.com/c32nmsp5
Learn more about how YOU can Restore Faith in America >> https://rfia.org
First Liberty Live! is headed back to California to bring you a special look at the Freedom Revival in San Diego. We’ll get to talk to one of the founders of the movement, Shaun Frederickson, about his passion behind the revival and how he is working on the frontlines to restore faith in America.
Christine Pratt, counsel, joins First Liberty Live! to break down the recent changes to Title IX and answer your most pressing questions. She’ll explain what these changes are and how some are harmful to religious liberty.
Lea Patterson shares why First Liberty is defending a Ten Commandments monument in Little Rock. She also explains how the Coach Kennedy victory at the Supreme Court will now play into the outcome in Arkansas.
First Liberty is excited to announce the launch of our latest project, Restoring Faith in America.
Thanks to our landmark victories at the Supreme Court, thousands of wrongful case decisions can be overruled – and with them come the opportunity to restore faith in communities across the country.
President and CEO, Kelly Shackelford joins us to introduce the project and what you can do to be a part of this effort.
Are you ready to help restore faith in America? You won’t want to miss this episode!
Learn more about Restoring Faith in America here: https://rfia.org
When Valerie Kloosterman was fired for standing up for her faith, First Liberty stepped in to file a lawsuit on her behalf against the University of Michigan Health.
Valerie joins today’s episode of First Liberty Live! to share her story. She’ll explain how she sought a religious accommodation from referring patients to certain medical procedures and how the ‘woke’ Michigan Health wouldn’t allow it.
This case will affect millions of religious Americans in the workplace. Don’t miss hearing Valerie’s story on Live!
Since Roe v Wade was overturned this summer, faith-based crisis pregnancy centers have been under constant threat of destruction and vandalism.
Andrew Beckwith, a decades long fighter of freedom and President of the Massachusetts Family Institute, joins the show to discuss these attacks.
He’ll share about the impact these attacks have had and how we can work together to protect religious organizations across America.
Over the last 50 years, Point of View Radio Talk Show has been reaching people across the country discussing faith, family, and freedom.
This week, host of Point of View, Kerby Anderson joins First Liberty Live! to take a look at the past 50 years to see the changes in our country and how religious liberty has shifted.
The fight for our military heroes isn’t over. Our Navy SEAL clients and many members of the Navy and Air Force continue to face unjust punishment and terrible living conditions just for living out their faith.
Attorney Danielle Runyan joins the show this week to give an update on our service members as they fight against the military vaccine mandate.
Required vaccines? Critical Race Theory? Prayer in school? Religious students and teachers across America face many new challenges as they settle into the fall semester.
Thankfully, attorney Keisha Russell joins First Liberty Live! to discuss these challenges and unpack the rights that students and teachers have to live out their faith.
First Liberty’s initiative the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy (CRCD) launched their latest project, the Religious Liberty in the States index. This project includes and compares the vibrancy of free exercise across American and includes a ranking of each state.
In this week’s First Liberty Live! episode, we’ll talk to the minds behind the index, CRCD director Trey Dimsdale and index author, Sarah Estelle. They’ll discuss how the index will become a powerhouse tool for exploring our freedom in America and why it’s so important.
On this episode of First Liberty Live! you can watch the Kleins as they share why they have fought for almost 10 years to regain their rights. Plus, hear senior counsel Stephanie Taub explain why this case is critical to every person of faith in America.
Founder of the Let Us Worship movement has a brand new film releasing later this year. He’ll be on the show to talk about the tyranny he faced in California during the pandemic.
Gerald Groff was forced to quit his job as a postal carrier because of his religious beliefs. Hear his story directly from him and learn how First Liberty is taking his case to the Supreme Court.
This week on First Liberty Live! join Dr. Richard Turnbull, senior fellow for the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy, for a conversation on the differences in how the United Kingdom and America approach religion.
He’ll unpack why the American Founders placed so much value on the First Amendment and why it’s so essential to maintain.
This week, Stuart Shepard gets a chance to talk to Mustafa Akyol, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, about why religious freedom is essential for everyone – no matter their faith background.
Mustafa will also tell his story of how he fled government overreach and tyranny in Turkey and how we see similar actions taking place today in America.
The last of our special double header episodes takes a look at why religious freedom is important in many different areas of American life.
Host Stuart Shepard meets with Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin, Vice President of the Family Research Council, about why maintaining religious liberty in the military is critical for our national safety.
Stuart also talks to Leslie Moeller, Chairman of the Society for Classical Learning, about classical education and the significant impact it is having on our next generation.
First Liberty Live! is continuing our series of special double-header episodes with two exemplary intellectual leaders: former solicitor general of the United States, Paul Clement, and Kristan Hawkins, president and founder of Students for Life.
Host Stuart Shepard catches up with Clement for the first time since our decisive victory for Coach Kennedy to get his take on the Supreme Court opinion and what could come next at the Court.
Stuart also talks to Kristan Hawkins about the recent Dobbs Court decision and the wave of cancel culture she has faced in its aftermath.
First Liberty Live! is on the road with a series of special double-header episodes over the next several weeks and our first episode is focused on how cultural change is affecting religious freedom in America.
Dr. Carl Trueman, theologian, historian and professor at Grove City College, will unpack his latest book on cultural change and how identity politics is shaping and influencing America and religious liberty.
Also joining the episode is Col. Leland Bohannon, a decorated Air Force officer and former First Liberty client, to discuss the importance of maintaining a culture of religious freedom in the military.
First Liberty’s mission is to empower people of faith across the country to live, work and worship according to their beliefs. But, many find it difficult to navigate modern society due to the anti-religious threats we face every day.
Lutheran Pastor and Senior Fellow for the Center for Religion Culture and Democracy, John Nunes, joins First Liberty Live! to help Americans respond to today’s cancel culture without compromising their beliefs.
For the past week, Kelly Shackelford and Chief Legal Officer Jeff Mateer have been reviewing the Court’s opinion and will join First Liberty Live! today to break it down for you. They will discuss the ruling including how far reaching the decision is and what happens next for Coach Kennedy.
Watch Coach Kennedy react to his Supreme Court victory from today! We are celebrating this huge win for religious liberty and unpacking what the SCOTUS opinion means for millions of teachers and coaches across the country.
FLI’s President and CEO Kelly Shackelford joins Stuart Shepard to provide the inside details on the ruling and how monumental it will be for our First Freedom.
In case you missed it, First Liberty won a major victory at the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of families and students across the country in the case Carson v Makin.
FLI’s President and CEO Kelly Shackelford and lead counsel Lea Patterson join Stuart Shepard to unpack this monumental moment for religious liberty on today’s episode of First Liberty Live!
As we await our two Supreme Court case decisions to be released, and finish our fiscal year, it’s worth reflecting on where we’ve been since last fall.
Our Director of Litigation, David Hacker, joins First Liberty Live! to review our numerous victories this year and to look ahead at our major cases for the rest of 2022. Plus, hear a special update on our clients Aaron and Melissa Klein in our Sweet Cakes by Melissa case.
With several key Supreme Court cases prepared to be released over the next few weeks, the radical left has renewed calls for packing our courts. First Liberty is standing strong against this threat.
Attorney Jeremy Dys will join the show to explain what First Liberty is doing to stop this Coup and how you can join our coalition.
First Liberty represents several Airmen who have been unjustly grounded for holding to their religious beliefs. Learn more about how we’re representing these American heroes.
May is Military Appreciation Month and provides an opportunity to dedicate time to appreciate our military heroes. And with Memorial Day next week, First Liberty Live! is hosting a special episode to remember who we fight for.
First Liberty Chief Legal Officer Jeff Mateer breaks down our recent lawsuit against Alaska Airlines for discriminating against two flight attendants for their religious beliefs.
This week on First Liberty Live! we are joined by podcast host, political commentator and President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Al Mohler. He’ll discuss the latest news on religious liberty for all Americans and share the importance of returning to our nation’s values on this day of prayer.
April 25th marks an historic moment in time. Coach Joe Kennedy is finally getting his day at the Supreme Court. Join us Live! at the Supreme Court as we bring you the uncut oral argument – straight from the Justices themselves.
In a week, we’ll be at the Supreme Court arguing on behalf of Coach Joe Kennedy. To get you ready for this important moment in history, we’re having a conversation with our volunteer counsel Paul Clement, one of the most experienced Supreme Court attorneys alive. He will be arguing Coach Kennedy’s case in front of the Court and you won’t want to miss his insights.
Mihail Neamtu, a survivor of communist Romania, now serves as a leading scholar and fellow for First Liberty’s new educational initiative, the Center for Religion Culture and Democracy. He joins the show to share his story of escaping tyranny and explain why protecting our liberties is so important.
Don’t miss hearing his inspiring story and the unique perspective he brings to these turbulent times.
Tim Goeglein joins First Liberty Live! to discuss why this Supreme Court term is one of the most important we’ve had in decades. He’ll walk through some of the critical cases that are coming up in the next few months.
Shaun Frederickson is an activist in Southern California and the creator of the Freedom Revival – a movement to restore unity and reclaim our nation under God. After going viral during a local government hearing, he became a spokesman for freedom during the wave of tyranny in California last year.
Shaun joins First Liberty Live! to discuss his passion behind building this movement and why he thinks California isn’t beyond saving. You won’t want to miss hearing his story and how his movement could reunite a divided country.
Todd Coconato is a pastor, podcast host and president of the Religious Liberty Coalition. He began the Coalition right before the pandemic started and quickly realized how critical it was to protect our religious liberty when tyranny threatened from all sides.
Founder and President of Turning Point USA, Charlie has long been an advocate and defender of religious freedom. He’ll discuss the critical importance of freedom in America and why it’s crucial to train America’s young adults to love and protect these freedoms.
In this episode we’ll talk to Rich Bott, President and CEO of Bott Radio Network, about the reach of his radio network and the impact it makes across America.
Our own attorney Keisha Russell will join the show in order to talk about the future of the Supreme Court with the announcement of the new nominee. She’ll also discuss other important cases going on around the Institute.
In this episode, Tony Perkins will discuss the new Supreme Court nominee and what she could mean for freedom in America. Plus, he’ll share his thoughts on our Navy SEALs case and how it could affect Americans around the country.
Debbie Wuthnow of iVoter Guide will join Live! to discuss the importance of voting according to your faith and how to protect religious liberty.
As an expert on international religious liberty, Sam Brownback will discuss the invasion of Ukraine and the threat religious freedom is under. In addition, he’ll share why religious freedom is critical to the world and the importance of protecting it.
Ken Ham, President and Founder of Answers in Genesis, joins First Liberty Live! to discuss how First Liberty protected his organization.
With several major developments happening on the legal front of our Navy SEALs case, Mike Berry, Vice President and Director of Military Affairs, will join First Liberty Live! to discuss the new activity.
Join First Liberty Live! on the road as we travel to Bremerton Washington. Hear exclusive stories from Coach Kennedy himself in the town where he grew up and how he's feeling about finally going to the Supreme Court.
After sitting on the case for over two years, the Oregon Court of Appeals finally released a decision for Aaron and Melissa Klein, founder and owner of Sweet Cakes by Melissa.
Stephanie Taub joins First Liberty Live! to unpack exactly what this means for the Kleins and what First Liberty will do for the case going forward.
Robyn Strader—a nurse practitioner —was fired from CVS Pharmacy for holding to her religious beliefs. On this week’s episode of First Liberty Live!, we’ll be joined by Robyn as she tells her story about why she chose to stand up to “woke” CVS and fight for what she believes.
Additional Resources:
- Learn more about Robyn and this case »
- Download the NEW AND UPDATED First Liberty Live! App »
- See our upcoming events you won’t want to miss »
Ever wondered what it takes to argue a case at the Supreme Court? With Coach Kennedy’s case set for oral argument, Executive General Counsel Hiram Sasser will join Live! to unpack our strategy for the final steps in getting to the Supreme Court.
Coach Kennedy’s case was granted for oral argument at the Supreme Court and we may finally get a victory for Coach and impact the future of religious liberty for decades to come.
General Counsel Mike Berry joins First Liberty Live! to break down this historic news. He discusses our next steps in the case, when oral argument could be held, and when we could finally hear a decision.
The replica dog tags with a military logo and Scripture verse are worn by many thousands of service members. But now Kenny Vaughan has been forced to go to court in order to keep making them.
Kenny is founder and president of Shields of Strength. You’ll want to hear his story about overcoming his fears and how he began his company. He’ll share why he’s standing up to injustice and why he has chosen to live out his faith in such an extraordinary manner.
The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear oral argument on the OSHA employee vaccine mandate. Jeremy Dys, special counsel for litigation and communication, joins o discuss what action First Liberty is taking. Also included is the full oral argument straight from the court so you can listen along.
A federal judge ruled in favor of our thirty-five (35) U.S. Navy SEAL clients granting them the first step to victory. Mike Berry, general counsel, joins the show to discuss what this victory means and what our next steps are to defend America’s heroes.
2021 was a landmark year for First Liberty – but we’re excited for the new one. Watch Kelly Shackelford unpack the upcoming year and look forward to all the cases and opportunities to protect your First Freedom.
First Liberty has had many victories over the past year – so many we haven’t had time to talk about them all! Watch Chief Legal Officer Jeff Mateer discuss our victories that you may have missed.
Join Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin as he unpacks the importance of protecting faith and freedom in our military. You won’t want to miss his insights and message to our Navy SEALs.
We’re at the Supreme Court! Tune in Live! to see us in DC as we show you what happens in our Supreme Court case. We’ll start with a preview of what’s to come with attorney Jeremy Dys, and then let you listen live to the audio of the oral argument.
In early December, we’ll be at the Supreme Court arguing on behalf of families who want the ability to choose what school their kids attend. Join our attorneys for a special roundtable discussion on this case and what it means for the future of religious freedom in America.
As Thanksgiving approaches, its worth looking back at moments we are thankful for – and remember how we can use our faith in this crucial time. Join Kayleigh McEnany as she talks about her upcoming book and the importance of her faith throughout her story.
In First Liberty’s fight for religious freedom, the ultimate battleground lies at the U.S. Supreme Court. On Dec. 1st, the Supreme Court is going to hear a case that could decide the future of abortion in America. While First Liberty focuses on religious liberty issues, how the three new Supreme Court justices rule in this case could provide crucial insight on how they will rule on religious freedom cases in the future.
Federal Agency, OSHA, has released the rules for their employer vaccine mandate for all businesses over 100 employees. Lea Patterson, Counsel, will unpack these rules, what this means for religious freedom and how it will impact you.
35 Navy SEALs requested a legal religious accommodation for the DoD's vaccine mandate. Now, they're being threatened with punishment, fines, even being kicked out. First Liberty General Counsel Mike Berry and First Liberty Live Host Stuart Shepard are in Washington, D.C., for this special episode.
Special guest Rod Dreher, author of Live Not By Lies and senior editor at The American Conservative, joins us for a discussion on the importance of standing up for truth and the "soft totalitarianism" that is creeping into America.
First Liberty represents 40 U.S. Navy SEALs whose careers and livelihoods are being threatened with punishment, involuntary separation or even court-martial. Why? Because they are seeking a legal, religious accommodation to the Department of Defense vaccine mandate. First Liberty General Counsel Mike Berry has the very latest.
Bob Fu became a Christian while in communist China. He was imprisoned for his faith, and lived under constant surveillance. He shares his story and offers encouragement and hope for American Christians.
Curious about what was discussed and their recommendations for “court reform”? Jeremy Dys will break down what “reforms” are on the table for the commission, the conclusions from Friday’s meeting, and what is at stake for the future of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Kelly Shackelford joins to give an update on the Supreme Court Coup, from Justices speaking out against it, to the letter we’re sending to the Court Commission. You won’t want to miss this update!
Sharon Gustafson, First Liberty Of Counsel & Former EEOC General Counsel joins us to discuss our latest case against Alaska Airlines currently pending at the EEOC. With her extensive knowledge, she’ll explain what rights religious employees have in the workplace.
Do you or any member of your family serve in the military? If so, you’ve no doubt heard and have questions about the Department of Defense’s vaccine mandate. Some of those who serve have no problem with the mandate, but others have religious objections and often have questions about the law.
Fortunately, we’ve got the right go-to expert who can help: First Liberty General Counsel, Mike Berry, who served for seven years on active duty as an attorney with the U.S. Marine Corps and continues to serve as a member of the Marine Corps Reserve.
We’re heading to the nation’s highest court for Coach Joe Kennedy. He joins First Liberty Live! for a special episode to give an update on his case. Be sure to hear these critical insights on how we are going to win his case at U.S. Supreme Court.
First Liberty attorney, Keisha Russell, will be answering YOUR questions about the vaccine mandate and discussing what rights people of faith, parents and students have in public schools. Questions will include: Can religious exemptions for the vaccine be turned down by your employer? Do you need a note from your pastor in order to get a religious exemption? Can a workplace require you to get tested if you don’t get the vaccine?
No one should have to fear being fired from their job because of their faith. But that’s exactly what happened to two flight attendants at Alaska Airlines who were recently fired for expressing their religious beliefs. Now, they’re firing back! First Liberty just filed a charge of discrimination against the airline for blatantly violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and making a mockery of laws that protect religious Americans from employment discrimination.
Learn more:
https://firstliberty.org/alaska/
What if Afghanistan had made religious freedom a top priority? For decades, U.S. foreign policy largely has been “aggressively secular” – in contradiction to the framework for our nation set in place by the Founders. Thomas Farr, president of the Religious Freedom Institute, explains why supporting religious freedom in every nation is vital to national security here in America.
In part 2 of our 3-part series, Back-To-School, Back to Normal?, we talk to Keisha Russell on the current battle over school choice and our latest Supreme Court case.
Join this special Live! episode as we sit down with former White House Press Secretary, Kayleigh McEnany to discuss her time in the White House and how her faith played a critical role in her work.
The first part of our special 3-part series, Back-To-School, Back to Normal?, we sit down with Keisha Russell to discuss the impact of vaccines and the rights that Americans will have this fall.
This week we are joined by Michael Knowles, political commentator, author, and podcast host with The Daily Wire. In this compelling episode, Knowles shares how the fight over the words that we say, is the fight over the thoughts that we think — and how Americans can learn to navigate this reality.
We are joined on First Liberty Live! by Erwin Lutzer, Pastor Emeritus at The Moody Church, to talk about his latest book, We Will Not Be Silenced.
Coach Joe is going on to the Supreme Court! After the Ninth Circuit once again denied Coach Kennedy’s case, we are confident that the Supreme Court will ultimately take his case and right this wrong. Hear from Supreme Court expert, Kelly Shackelford on the importance of this case and how we are perfectly poised to win at the Supreme Court.
Of all the “reform” proposals floated by the radical left to get its way at the Supreme Court — term limits, court-packing, breaking justices into three-judge panels, and more — the most destructive is the move to eliminate judicial review. Join us for the latest update in our Supreme Coup series as FLI Special Counsel Jeremy Dys breaks down this alarming proposal — and what you can do to help us expose it.
The latest Supreme Court term just wrapped up with several noteworthy decisions that have crucial implications for your religious liberty. Get expert insight on these important decisions from FLI Chief Legal Officer, Jeff Mateer—including breaking news about our latest Supreme Court case.
Benjamin Watson played in the NFL for 16 seasons, including a Super Bowl win with the Patriots. He tells host Stuart Shepard that he got through the hardest times, because "God repeatedly showed up."
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo joins First Liberty Live! to discuss the state of religious liberty in our nation.
Breaking News: First Liberty Attorney Mike Berry shares the latest victory for religious freedom in the military.
Watch the filmmakers and voices behind movies such as "Overcomer," "War Room" and "Courageous," discuss what it looks like to make films in secular Hollywood.
Leading conservative columnist and activist, Star Parker, joins us to discuss public policy including, religious freedom, cancel culture in the media, and race relations
First Liberty is going Live! throughout the conference. Join Ken Starr for part 2 of our conversation about his new book, Religious Liberty in Crisis.
President, CEO and Chief Counsel at First Liberty, Kelly Shackelford will give some case updates including last week’s stunning religious victory at the Supreme Court in Fulton v. Philadelphia.
Listen to Pat Boone and hear his incredible story of faith and how he has navigated a secular world for decades.
First Liberty is going Live! throughout the National Religious Broadcasters Convention. Join us all week and watch Todd Winking as he shares an exciting announcement about First Liberty!
Former U.S. solicitor general and bestselling author Ken Starr will share how our religious liberty is under attack like never before and why it is so important for every American to turn from passivity and take an active role in advancing the cause of liberty.
Dr. Jarvis Baker, Pastor of Canaan Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, shares some good news: Your support for First Liberty results in a bright future for the church’s outreach to the community. Learn about the victory in the legal matter, as well as the congregation’s future plans. And a special thank you to Chad B. Walker, Partner at Winston & Strawn LLP, as volenteer attorney for the case. The new worship building at Canaan Baptist will be named in his honor.
Li Zhao Schoolland, a Chinese freedom activist and featured author shares her story growing up in Communist China. Listen as she explains the dire state of the country she was raised in and tells a cautionary tale of what happens when the government gets involved in every aspect of your life.
First Liberty is representing the town of Monument, CO, after the so-called Military Religious Freedom Foundation threatened to file a lawsuit because an Eagle Scout built a memorial with a religious reference to honor veterans.
Listen to Stephanie Taub talk through the case and hear about what First Liberty is doing to protect this monument.
Lt. Col. Oliver North joins First Liberty Live! to discuss the importance of faith in the military, and why we must fight back against the aggressively intolerant extremism threatening to wipe out this essential right. Be sure to tune into this exclusive episode to hear more of Oliver North’s incredible story, and the role that faith has played in his own life.
Lt. Col. Allen West, former Congressman and the current chairman of the Texas GOP joins First Liberty Live! to discuss the creeping ideologies that are infecting our military. He will talk about the importance of faith in the military and how young service members can stay true to thier faith despite the pressure.
Join host Stuart Shepard as he talks with Chad Robichaux in the second episode of our special Military Appreciation Month series. Chad is a USMC Force Recon veteran, former MMA champion, bestselling author, sought-after speaker and commentator, and the founder of the Mighty Oaks Foundation supporting military veterans.
He will share his incredible story about his time in combat, and how it nearly cost him everything before reconnecting with his faith—and you’ll learn how this journey inspired the work he does building up spiritual resiliency for veterans suffering from post-deployment trauma.
Join our very own Mike Berry, FLI General Counsel and Lt. Col in the USMC Reserve, as he kicks off Military Appreciation Month. He’ll discuss the current issues within the military as it relates to religious freedom and what we can do about it going forward. He’ll also describe the ongoing extremism that is slowly taking over our military.
When Dallas homeless ministry OurCalling was attacked by the city for trying to keep their doors open during a storm, First Liberty stepped in to help.
Listen to get the details on this outrageous new case, and find out what we’re doing to solve the situation.
Join us as we chat with distinguished legal scholar Patrick M. Garry, Ph.D., about the history of high courts that have been overthrown in other countries like Venezuela and Argentina, what the dire consequences have been in each case, and what red flags we need to be looking for right now in America.
Join us for an extra-special episode as we chat with distinguished Fox News host and bestselling author Shannon Bream about her new book, “The Women of the Bible Speak,” and what it’s like to be a woman of faith in the world of broadcast television in 2021 America.
Learn more about Shannon’s new book “The Women of the Bible Speak” and order your copy here:
https://www.foxnews.com/books
Learn the facts, truth and history behind the brazen attempt by radical elites to rig the U.S. Supreme Court with an “automatic majority” that will rubber-stamp their extremist agenda…and turn a once-independent judiciary into a tool for raw political power.
This special episode features Kelly Shackelford, a renowned Constitutional scholar and current President, CEO & Chief Counsel at First Liberty Institute. He is a former adjunct Professor of Law at UT Law School for 10 years, a Constitutional litigator for 32 years, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society.
It’s been almost one year since the seminal legal case that was heard around the country. Be sure to tune in to this special episode recapping what happened last Easter with Chuck Salvo and On Fire Christian Church and how it made history during a major crisis in our nation.
The deceptively-named “Equality” Act is actually an incredible affront to religious freedom, and has the potential to strip back our First Amendment rights to unparalleled levels. On this special “March to Madness” episode, FLI Counsel Keisha Russell breaks down the biggest problems with the Act and shares what you can do to help prevent it from passing.
Continuing our ‘March Toward Madness’ series, FLI Counsel Christine Pratt will answer all your key questions about your rights and liberties regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and what options you have when considering the vaccine.
Note: We are not offering medical advice. And while we are offering an opinion on the law, this is not legal advice. Be sure to consult your attorney.
In our ‘march toward madness’ special episode, FLI Chief Legal Officer Jeff Mateer breaks down the rise in cancel culture, big-tech censorship, big-government schemes like court packing, and other imminent dangers to American freedom — and he’ll share how you can join us in stopping this madness.
On this episode of Live!, hear the story of a former Irish police officer who moved across the Atlantic to the small town of Walthill, Nebraska, and the unimaginable struggles his ministry continues facing to this day.
Host Stuart Shepard and FLI Counsel Lea Patterson explain our ongoing case where a simple prayer got a juror disqualified from their post on the jury. Could your faith disqualify you from service, too?
FLI Senior Counsel Stephanie Taub is joined by host Stuart Shepard to tell you how families in Maine are facing unfair targeting from the state government just for wanting to send their children to religious schools, and why winning this case is crucial for religious families and schools all over America.
Stephanie also explains why religious organizations must be left free to make their own operational decisions, and why we need the Supreme Court to clarify this key principle.
In this First Liberty Live!, we expose the alarming dangers of “court-packing” with guest Mike Berry, First Liberty’s General Counsel.
He’s joined by host Stuart Shepard for an inside look at what happened the first time this was tried in America, back in 1937 under FDR’s “living Constitution” doctrine, they’ll explain who stopped it 84 years ago, and why it is so important that we stop the renewed push for court-packing today.
Host Stuart Shepard is joined by our featured guest, 3x Super Bowl Champion Brent Jones, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first-ever NFL postgame prayer huddle in one more special football edition of First Liberty Live!
Stick around towards the end of the video for a special surprise as Coach Kennedy himself hops on to meet Brent and share some encouragement for other coaches and players looking to live out their faith both on and off the field.
There’s no play book for protecting religious liberty during a worldwide pandemic. President, CEO, and Chief Counsel of First Liberty Kelly Shackelford sits down with Justin and Jeremy to discuss how First Liberty thought through the impending threat to defend religious liberty for all Americans.
One of the concerns about life after COVID-19 is that, despite trying their best to follow the guidance and rules from the CDC, state, and local government, someone might still contract the coronavirus and try to blame religious organizations for it. Justin and Jeremy sit down with Congressman Mike Johnson (R-LA) to sort through what that means for religious liberty.
Senator Ted Cruz joins Justin and Jeremy on this week’s episode to discuss personal rights during the COVID-19 pandemic and the interplay between religious freedom and authoritarianism. We also discuss Senator Cruz’s thoughts on how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect America’s approach to our foundational freedoms in the future.
If you would like to subscribe to Senator Cruz’s podcast Verdict, which we discussed during this episode, you may find it here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/verdict-with-ted-cruz/
To learn more about First Liberty's response to the COVID-19 crisis, go to https://firstliberty.org/covid-19
Former First Liberty network Attorney and former Acting Attorney General of the US Matt Whitaker joins Justin and Jeremy to discuss protecting your First Amendment rights as houses of worship begin to re-open. In particular, they will dive into current cases in Kentucky and Washington State.
Jeremy and Justin are joined by Dr. Albert Mohler of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Charmaine Yoest of the Heritage Foundation to discuss the things churches should consider as they prepare for in person worship services and what the path forward for reopening America looks like for people of faith.
When can we go back to church? First Liberty Institute is committed to ensuring that places of worship can safely balance efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 with the freedom to hold religious services consistent with their faith traditions. As America begins the reopening process, this resource can assist religious, civic, and community leaders, and places of worship, as they gradually reopen their doors.
- Download FLI’s Recommendations for Reopening Places of Worship
This week Rep. Vicki Hartzler (MO) joined Jeremy and Justin to discuss recently passed economic relief legislation and offer her thoughts on what religious liberty has looked like during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, explained what his conversations with President Trump and Vice-President Pence have revealed about the country’s posture toward religious liberty in the time of pandemic. Finally, Jeremy and Justin reveal a long awaited for announcement.
Additional Resources:
- Guidance from TX Attorney Ken Paxton for Churches
- Kelly Shackelford’s Statement Supporting Gov. Abbot, AG Paxton Decision to Allow In-Person Church Services
First Liberty’s Justin Butterfield and Jeremy Dys are joined by U.S. Senator. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Kevin Gallagher, Senior Associate at WilmerHale to discuss you the latest frontline updates on how to protect religious freedom during the COVID-19 crisis including 2 major victories for drive-in church services in Kentucky and Mississippi.
In this episode, Eric Dreiband, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice joins Justin and Jeremy to discuss how the U.S. DOJ’s “Place to Worship Initiative” is preserving religious freedom, even during the novel coronavirus. Then, one of First Liberty’s former clients, Dr. Eric Walsh, joins the call to give his perspective on public health, ministry, and even religious liberty from his unique perspective as someone with a doctorate in public health, a lay minister, and whose religious liberty that was once invaded by the state.
Additional Information
- Place to Worship Initiative
- Religious Freedom and the CARES Act by Justin Butterfield
- Mandatory social distancing is not a threat to religious liberty. It’s essential for humanity. by Kelly Shackelford
- How the Justice Department is standing up for civil rights amid coronavirus pandemic by Eric Dreiband
Justin Butterfield and Jeremy Dys bring you the latest frontline updates on how to protect religious freedom with new government restrictions being imposed during the COVID-19 crisis with special guest Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The federal government recently passed the $2 trillion COVID-19 Stimulus bill (The CARES Act), which includes some important new adjustments that could directly benefit you, your church or synagogue, plus other religious organizations across the country.
Next they are joined by Matt Martens – Co-Chair, Securities Litigation and Enforcement Practice Group at WilmerHale – to discuss how the COVID-19 Stimulus bill could help churches and religious organizations.
As government officials continue to try to stem the spread and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, they have imposed restrictions on large gatherings - including churches and other religious institutions.
In this special edition of First Response, First Liberty attorneys Justin Butterfield and Jeremy Dys report on states that have done well when issuing their mandated restriction orders and on states that have not done so well.
How Has Your State Responded to COVID-19? FLI’s legal team has analyzed all of the COVID-19 orders put into place by each state. Learn how your state has responded by visiting First Liberty's COVID-19 resource web page and downloading your free copy of Religious Exemptions and Language in COVID-19 Orders.
Government officials, trying to stem the spread and effects of the pandemic, have imposed restrictions on large gatherings - including churches and other religious institutions.
How should America's faithful respond? Do these state-mandated restrictions conflict with the First Amendment and religious freedom?
In this week's episode, Justin and Jeremy will share examples of some of the innovative ways houses of worship and people of faith throughout our nation are impacting their communities.
Millions of Americans are adjusting to the new normal brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic. Government officials, trying to stem the spread and effects of the pandemic, have imposed restrictions on large gatherings—including churches and other religious institutions. How should America’s faithful respond? Do these state-mandated restrictions conflict with the First Amendment and religious freedom?
Join First Liberty Institute attorneys, Justin Butterfield and Jeremy Dys, for an in-depth look at the legality of state-mandated restrictions and your right to live out your faith.
About Justin & Jeremy Justin Butterfield is the former Senior Advisor for Conscience and Religious Freedom in the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Jeremy Dys is First Liberty’s Special Counsel for Litigation and Communications.