Marco Rubio: Paris Attacks Were God’s Plan

You might have forgotten, but Marco Rubio is running for the presidency. He was asked recently at a rally, “Why does God allow terrible things to happen?”

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"Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio thinks the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the recent massacre in Paris were part of God’s plan.

Speaking at a campaign rally last Monday in Iowa, the Florida senator said Christians should never be afraid because God was in control of the universe, the Christian Post reported.

“We are biblically ordered not to be afraid,” Rubio said. “You know why? Because God is telling us that no matter what happens, ‘It is part of my plan. I will give you the strength to endure it whether you like it or not.'”

Rubio noted that he had previously been asked why God would allow terrorist attacks to happen.”

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Ana Kasparian (The Point) and John Iadarola (Think Tank), hosts of the The Young Turks, break it down.



The Young Turks. 2015

Andrea Tantaros: Liberals Indicting Entire Religion… Christian White Republicans

In the wake of the Planned Parenthood terrorist attack, there was another sort of concern that Fox hosts raised. Some thought the left was too quick to jump to conclusions about the man shooting up a Planned Parenthood.



Ana Kasparian (The Point) and John Iadarola (Think Tank), hosts of the The Young Turks, break it down.

"Fox News host Andrea Tantaros blasted liberals on Monday for “indicting an entire religion” of “Christian white Republicans” following last week’s domestic terror attacks on a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado.

“I think this was pretty predictable,” Tantaros said. “You saw on Twitter a lot of people rushing to judgement. The same people who hesitate using the phrase Islamic terrorism were very quick to use the term ‘Christian’.”..

Fox News contributor Rachel Campos-Duffy argued that liberals were trying to tie the attacks to the anti-abortion movement as a plot to derail upcoming congressional hearings on Planned Parenthood.

“They are deeply embarrassed about these videos,” she insisted. “It pulled the curtain on what really happens in the back rooms of those abortion clinics. And that’s what this is about, they want to muzzle us.”

Tantaros added that “the left” wanted to stop all talk about “the illegal harvesting of baby parts on the off chance that some lunatic out there might hear that rhetoric and decide to go shoot up a clinic.””*

The Young Turks, November 2015

Pastor’s Wife Approves Husband Marrying Teenager

Thom Miller from Ohio used to work for the mob, but then became a born again Christian. At 60 he is now a pastor, and he has interpreted Christianity in a way that allows him to have more than one wife. With his first wife’s consent he has now married a 19 year old woman and impregnated her.



“A 60-year-old Ohio mob enforcer-turned-pastor married his teenage bride and got her pregnant, all with the blessing of the other lady in his life — his 44-year-old wife.

“The whole situation works for all three of us,” Thom Miller told Barcroft Media. “I am the only one who is allowed to have more than one partner — and both of my wives understand and appreciate that.”

Miller is now building a bigger home so he can split his time between his two ladies, whom he calls sister wives.

And he believes their polygamous lifestyle is strengthening family ties.

“It means they always have a friend with them.”

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Ana Kasparian (The Point) and John Iadarola (Think Tank) hosts of The Young Turks discuss.
2015

Think You’re A Christian? Better Check With Mike Huckabee First...

“Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee this week asserted that President Barack Obama had no right to “pretend” he’s a Christian after the White House invited LGBT and climate change activists to the White House to hear Pope Francis speak.

“I’m also concerned about a guy who believes he’s a Christian and then pretends to be and says he is but then does things that makes it very difficult for people to practice their Christian faith,” Huckabee told Newsmax on Tuesday. “If a person says, ‘I’m a Christian’ but you invite the pope into your home and then you invite a whole bunch of people who are at odds with the Catholic church policy, I think there’s something very unseemly about that.””*



Read more here: Mike Huckabee: Obama has no right to ‘believe he’s a Christian’ after inviting gays to meet pope

Cenk Uygur and John Iadarola (Think Tank), hosts of the The Young Turks, break it down. Tell us what you think in the comment section below.

Mike Huckabee Wants Special Christian Rights

Mike Huckabee is a big believer in religious freedom, but how far does his commitment to that religious freedom for other religions actually go?

Ana Kasparian (The Point), and John Iadarola (Think Tank), hosts of the The Young Turks, break it down.



"Huckabee began to discuss Chancellor Jeffrey Atherton, who last week dismissed a divorce complaint in an attempt to prove a dickish point about allowing gays to marry ...

Mika Brzezinski then interrupted Huckabee in an attempt to get him to answer the question. “Would you support a clerk who would not give Kim Davis a third or a fourth marriage license? You?”

Huckabee responded that he wasn’t sure he followed this very simple question. “You’re asking a question of a different nature,” he said. “There’s a difference between a marriage between a man and a woman or a marriage between two men and a marriage between two women...”

September 2015

Anti-Gay Marriage Clerk Kim Davis Goes To Jail

Kentucky clerk Kim Davis is going to continue not signing gay marriage certificates, but starting today she will be not signing them in jail.



"Embattled Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis has been ordered to jail by U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning, according to the Herald Leader’s John Cheeves:

Earlier on Thursday, Davis told Fox News contributor Todd Starnes that she was prepared for this outcome. “I’ve weighed the cost and I’m prepared to go to jail, I sure am,” she said. “This has never been a gay or lesbian issue for me. This is about upholding the word of God.””*

Cenk Uygur and John Iadarola (Think Tank), hosts of the The Young Turks, break it down.

Chris Christie: I Used Birth Control In Spite Of Church Teachings

Chris Christy was recently at a campaign stop, talking about how well he mixes his religious and political beliefs. He explained why he wasn’t against birth control. John Iadarola (Think Tank) and Jimmy Dore (The Jimmy Dore Show Podcast), hosts of The Young Turks, break it down. Tell us what you think in the comment section below.

"New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican presidential candidate, on Tuesday confessed that there’s one aspect of his Catholic faith where he hasn’t always followed the church.



"I'm a Catholic, but I've used birth control, and not just the rhythm method, OK?" Christie said at a restaurant in New Hampshire, as a man in front of him put his hand over his forehead.

Rubio Wants Abortion Banned With No "Life Of The Mother” Exceptions

There’s some disagreement on how Marco Rubio did in last night’s debate. He appeared to backpedal when Megyn Kelly asked him about his position on abortion bans in cases where the mother’s life is in danger. John Iadarola (Think Tank), Ben Mankiewicz (Turner Classic Movies), and Jimmy Dore (The Jimmy Dore Show Podcast), hosts of the The Young Turks, break it down on tonight’s TYT Power Panel. Tell us what you think in the comment section below.



"Florida Sen. Marco Rubio argued with Fox News debate moderator Megyn Kelly Thursday on his record on abortions, claiming he does not actually support exceptions to an abortion ban in cases of rape or incest...

“If you believe that life begins at conception, which you do, how do you justify ending a life just because it begins violently through no fault of the baby?” Kelly asked Rubio during the debate.

Rubio responded by saying he’s not sure Kelly had a “correct assessment of my record.” When pressed on whether or not he favors the exceptions, he said he has never supported or advocated for them.”

America’s Gun Sickness, Graphed

Our brief reprieve from high-profile mass killings has already been broken. Even though nothing will likely happen legislatively after this latest tragedy to help prevent it happening again, it’s still important to talk about the issue and keep fighting for saner national gun policies.



The Young Turks, July 2015

John Iadarola (Think Tank), Jimmy Dore (The Jimmy Dore Show), Jayar Jackson, and Michael Shure (Al Jazeera America) break it down on tonight’s Power Panel.


"In developed countries, there is a strong correlation between the number of guns and incidences of gun violence. In 2012, the US, which has the most guns per capita, also had the most firearm-related homicides of developed countries. Japan, which has the lowest rate of gun ownership, had the least…

Looking at the entire world, countries in Central America like Honduras, El Salvador, or Mexico have the most gun homicides per capita. But among the developed countries, none gets even close to the US.”*

Read more here: These graphics show just how much of an insane outlier the US is on guns VOX Criminal Justice

There have been 204 mass shootings — and 204 days — in 2015 so far The washington Post

Fox Host Ends The Gay Marriage Argument Forever

"In a stunning and deeply personal commentary on the legalization of same-sex marriage, a Fox News host passionately defended the Supreme Court’s decision by launching into a diatribe against those who would prevent two people who love each other from being married.

In video captured by Media Matters, Fox host Julie Banderas left no doubt how she feels about same-sex marriage, citing her gay sister and gay friends whose wedding she looks forward to.



Responding to a comment from a viewer who felt the matter should be put to a vote by the public, Banderas went off as she pointed at her own wedding ring."

Read more from The Raw Story here: Fox News host makes stunning and passionate defense of same-sex marriage — and it is awesome

Ben Mankiewicz (What The Flick?!) & John Iadarola (Think Tank) of the Young Turks break it down.

Catholics Are Super Sad Gay People Can Get Married Now

Catholicvote.org wanted to make their position clear on gay marriage. They released a video where young people were discussing how they view marriage has being between a man and a woman. Are they acting as victims of persecution? John Iadarola and Ana Kasparian (The Point) hosts of The Young Turks discuss.



"In a video released the day before the landmark marriage equality decision by SCOTUS, CatholicVote.org has marriage equality opponents say something they're been "afraid" to speak out about. They confess that they are against marriage equality. The emotional video features several marriage equality opponents explaining why they don't want gay people to get married. Several of them even tear up towards the end of the video and talk about their "gay friends." It's hard to believe this video is even serious."

Candidates Fight Gay Marriage With Hate, Fear & Sky God Nonsense

"Republican presidential hopefuls responded to the Supreme Court’s historic same-sex marriage decision Friday with a mix of tepid disapproval and fiery condemnation, reflecting the party’s deep unease with an issue where public opinion tilted decisively toward equality well before the law had caught up.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a longtime same-sex marriage opponent whose advisers include many prominent pro-gay rights Republicans, exemplified the more cautious end of the GOP spectrum.

“Guided by my faith, I believe in traditional marriage,” Bush wrote. “I believe the Supreme Court should have allowed the states to make this decision. I also believe that we should love our neighbor and respect others, including those making lifetime commitments.”

Bush wasn’t the only Republican 2016 hopeful who toned down the fire and brimstone."

Jim Carrey Rails Against California's Strict Vaccination Law

Jim Carrey went on a twitter rant over California’s state-wide vaccination policy. The actor believes that vaccines poison children, but claims he is not anti-vaccine. John Iadarola and Ana Kasparian (The Point) hosts of The Young Turks discuss.

"Jim Carrey launched into an anti-vaccination rant on Twitter Tuesday after California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill requiring all public school children in the state to be vaccinated starting in 2016. In a series of tweets, the actor accused the Centers for Disease Control of being "corrupt" and painted Brown as a "corporate fascist that must be stopped."



"California Gov says yes to poisoning more children with mercury and aluminum in manditory [sic] vaccines," Carrey tweeted. "They say mercury in fish is dangerous but forcing all of our children to be injected with mercury in Thimerosol is no risk. Make sense?"

The strict bill also removes vaccination exemptions based on religious beliefs, The Hollywood Reporter writes. "I am not anti-vaccine. I am anti-Thimerosal, anti-mercury. They have taken some of the mercury-laden Thimerosal out of vaccines. NOT ALL," Carrey tweeted. "The CDC can't solve a problem they helped start. It's too risky to admit they have been wrong about mercury/Thimerasol. They are corrupt." Carrey ended his rant by telling parents to check out the documentary Trace Amounts."

Idaho Wants The Bible Taught In Every Class

If Republicans in Idaho get their way then the bible could soon show up in public school class rooms. That’s not the worst part. I could show up in every public school classroom, regardless of subject.

John Iadarola (Think Tank) and Jimmy Dore (The Jimmy Dore Show) break it down. Should we teach subjects like biology and psychology from the bible? Tell us what you think in the comments below.



Read more here: Idaho Republicans: Public schools should use the Bible as a science and law textbook

"Republicans in Idaho are pushing a bill to make the Bible a reference book in public school classes teaching science and law, Patheos reports.

Members of the state’s Republican party have published a set of proposed resolutions following a central committee meeting this past weekend among Idaho GOP higher-ups. The policy initiatives the state’s conservative leadership dreamed up include “A Resolution Supporting Bible Use in Idaho Public Schools.”

Republican party chairperson for Idaho County, Marge Arnzen, submitted legislative language to infuse the state’s curriculum with biblical teachings. The proposal, partially captured in screen shots below, begins with a nod to the Christian supreme being."

Glenn Beck's Cult Of Doomsday Zealots Having A Great Year

"Next week, Religious Right activist Jim Garlow will be hosting a four day conference at his California megachurch called the "Future Conference: What You Thought Was Coming ... Is Here Now." That sort of a dire warning perfectly matches up with what Glenn Beck has been saying for the last several months, so naturally Beck invited Garlow on to his radio program yesterday to promote the event.

Garlow's conference is coming at the perfect time, Beck said, because society is about to collapse and America needs passionate pastors who are willing to give up their lives if necessary in the fight against the coming persecution of Christians. Fortunately, the Black Robe Regiment that he and David Barton established a few years back has managed to cobble together at least 10,000 pastors who are willing to do just that.



"The number in the Black Robe Regiment is about 70,000 now," Beck said.

Read more here: Beck: We Have 10,000 Pastors Who Are Willing To Die Resisting Anti-Christian Persecution In America


Cenk Uygur (http://www.twitter.com/cenkuygur), John Iadarola (Think Tank; http://www.twitter.com/jiadarola), Ben Mankiewicz (What The Flick?! http://www.twitter.com/BenMank77) & Jimmy Dore (The Jimmy Dore Show; http://www.twitter.com/jimmy_dore) of The Young Turks break it down.

Old Angry Grandpa Explains Why Liberals Are Everywhere

"A recent Gallup poll found that the percentage of social liberals and social conservatives are exactly the same, for the first time in a long time. The Catholic Bill O’Reilly reacted tonight by saying he knows why liberals are making gains: “more Americans are simply ignorant of the consequences involving social behavior.”

He dubbed it “Watters World syndrome,” in reference to how O’Reilly producer Jesse Watters regularly talks to random people on the street who don’t necessarily have incredibly intellectual reactions to political questions.

O’Reilly said it’s “frightenine” how little liberals know, and he blames the internet and the entertainment industry for changing minds like that. He brought up how things like gay marriage and having a baby outside of marriage are viewed as more acceptable today than they were years ago, and that’s because of Hollywood, apparently."

Read more here: O’Reilly: Liberals Are Making Gains Because ‘More Americans Are Simply Ignorant’

John Iadarola (Think Tank; http://www.twitter.com/jiadarola), Ben Mankiewicz (What The Flick?! http://www.twitter.com/BenMank77) & Jimmy Dore (The Jimmy Dore Show; http://www.twitter.com/jimmy_dore) of The Young Turks break it down.

Rush Limbaugh Blames Gay Marriage for Decline of Religion

Radio host Rush Limbaugh on Tuesday explained that Christianity was facing a sharp decline in the United States because Americans were leaving churches that had not “fallen prey to the dark side” and embraced same-sex marriage.

A recent Pew Research Center survey showed that the number of Americans identifying as Christians had dropped by 8 points in the last seven years. At the same time, Americans who were not affiliated with a religion rose from 16 percent to 23 percent.


On his Tuesday radio show, Limbaugh explained that the drop in self-identifying Christians could be explained by “homosexual marriage.”

Limbaugh noted that many churches already performed same-sex weddings and ordained gay clergy.

“And in some cases female and lesbian ministers, which you might think in some cases could cause people to leave those churches,” he opined. “Those denominations — the Methodists, the Presbyterians, the Lutherans — dropped a lot of members.”



Rush Limbaugh has a unique reason why he thinks the country is headed down the drain because religion is on the decline.

The Young Turks, May 2015

Actress Leah Remini Opens Up About Leaving Scientology

"For more than 30 years, actress Leah Remini was a devout member of the Church of Scientology, the controversial organization characterized as a religion and created by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. Though some high-profile Scientologists made the decision to join the church during their adulthood, Remini had little choice in the matter, as she tells 'Oprah: Where Are They Now?' in the above video.

'My mother was in Scientology my whole life. Most people don't know that we were raised in it -- I didn't decide to get into it,' Remini clarifies. 'I was brought into it by my mom.'
While many outside of Scientology have a basic awareness of some beliefs and practices of its members, Remini says that the true commitment required of Scientologists is far less known.

'I don't think people know the amount of dedication it takes to be in this organization,' she says. 'I mean, it was every day, three-and-a-half hours minimum, seven days a week.'”




John Iadarola (http://www.twitter.com/jiadarola), Jimmy Dore (http://www.twitter.com/jimmy_dore) and Ana Kasparian (http://www.twitter.com/AnaKasparian) discuss on The Young Turks. Tell us what you think in the comment section below.

*Read more here The Heartbreaking Moment That Made Leah Remini Question Her Dedication To Scientology

Americans Are Losing Their Religion

With every passing year the share of the population that identifies as Christian inches down ever so slightly and the share of the population that identifies as atheist or agnostic goes up very slightly as well. Now over enough years that change can be quite dramatic.

Cenk Uygur (https://twitter.com/cenkuygur) and John Iadarola (https://twitter.com/jiadarola) break down the story. Are you part of the group who gave up on religion? Tell us why or why not in the comments.



Even though some politicians claim America is a "Christian nation," the share of the population that identifies as Christian has declined significantly in recent years.

New statistics from the Pew Research Center show that between 2007 and 2014, the number of Americans who identify as Christian dropped by nearly eight percentage points, from 78.4 percent to 70.6 percent.

At the same time, Pew’s 2014 U.S. Religious Landscape Study found that the number of people who are religiously unaffiliated -- either atheist, agnostic or simply “nothing in particular” -- has grown by more than six percentage points, from 16.1 percent in 2007 to 22.8 percent in 2014.

Fox News Priest: Obama, Like All Atheists, Can't Be Trusted

"Catholic priest and Fox News contributor Father Jonathan Morris argued over the weekend that atheists were not suitable candidates for president because it was “hard to trust” someone who did not believe that God would punish them.

“One thing is very certain, you can’t fake religion,” Morris said of the Republican presidential candidates on Sunday’s edition of Fox & Friends. “Politicians sometimes fall into that, I think. What matters most to us Americans — those who will be voting — is what these guys said before they were running for president, the way in which they lived before they started running for president.”



“I think they need to be very clear about the values they believe in, not making stuff up in order to get votes,” he continued."

Read more here: Fox priest: ‘Hard to trust’ an atheist president because they don’t fear eternal damnation

Ana Kasparian, John Iadarola, and Jimmy Dore of The Young Turks break it down.

2015

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Fox's priest: Atheists shouldn't be president because nonbelievers are 'hard to trust'