Getting Curious With Jonathan Van Ness

What does the separation of church and state actually protect, and why does it matter to all of us? This week, Jonathan sits down with Americans United President & CEO Rachel Laser (who somehow balances leading one of the country’s foremost constitutional advocacy organizations while teaching yoga on the side) for a conversation about one of the most important (and often misunderstood) principles in American democracy. Together, they explore how the Constitution protects religious freedom, why those protections belong to everyone, and what happens when government and religion become too closely intertwined. Rachel breaks down the growing influence of Christian Nationalism, why patriotism isn’t the same as religious identity, and how some political movements are saying the quiet part out loud. They also discuss recent debates over displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools, the importance of creating space for every belief system, and why defending church-state separation is ultimately about protectin