THU brief 7.7.22
Welcome to an evening brief. Sign up if this email was forwarded to you (hint: here’s the button).
Today’s Stories
THE TEXAS VS. WOKE WALL ST. cold economic war just got a little hotter.
Reuters profiles how red states are “targeting” Wall St. with allegedly “anti-woke” laws. Setting aside the news agency’s hostile framing of essentially defensive measures, even this embryonic effort is bearing fruit.
To their chagrin, Texas’ defense of energy producers and firearms manufacturers has frozen several Wall St. banks out of municipal debt underwriting. Texas’ community banks have stepped into the void and, in the process, created a political coalition in favor of more significant efforts.
The piece also discusses Briscoe Cain’s efforts to curtail corporations from subsidizing out-of-state travel for employees obtaining abortions. Cain has been covered, but it suffices to say, details and execution matter.
Speaking of details, no effort to restrict corporate abortion travel subsidies will be severe if it doesn’t include the state’s “economic development” programs. The state probably doesn’t have authority (*) to restrict this practice as a “general” matter, but it’s an easy string to attach to a corporate subsidy.
(* - The feds might, tho….interstate conspiracy, etc.)
BORDER INVASION declarations from several (non-RGV) South and West Texas counties are designed to pressure Greg Abbott to do likewise.
According to this line of thinking, Texas can step into the breach and enforce the border without the feds by declaring an “invasion” under Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution.
Suffice to say, that’s the last thing Greg Abbott wants to do. It’s a lot easier to blame Biden.
This fight will reveal a lot about how susceptible Abbott remains to pressure from conservatives now that the primary is behind him.
“CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM” is the new “white supremacy.”
It’s a buzzword intended to deride whatever the left doesn’t like (this week). It’s one of those phrases they think sounds smart but is actually foolish.
(As an example of the genre, see this piece in the New York Times.)
This phrase has been bubbling up recently. It’s unclear why, perhaps “white supremacy” ran out of juice. Either way, expect it to stay a while.
Understand: Nation-states are biblically-ordained. Both old and new testaments.
Understand further: Aligning the nation’s laws with a Biblical worldview is a subcategory of Jesus’ command to disciple the countries. See. Specifically, the phrase “teaching them to observe” in Matthew 28:20.
That’s not to say, of course, that most Christian political activism is done well. It’s certainly true that many organizations claiming to represent Christ are heavily compromised, if not an outright gift.
Christian political activism is much like Christian filmmaking: A great concept whose execution is frequently bungled.
Regarding the word “nationalism,”: It’s certainly the case that Biblical citizenship is not the same as the jingoistic flag-waving popular in certain right-wing circles. To the degree to which believers excessively focus on earthly kingdoms, it’s a valid criticism.
If you spend more time watching Fox News than reading your Bible, (prayerfully) re-examine your priorities.
But, come on. Does anyone think the crowd currently prattling about “Christian NaTiOnAlIsM” cares about the finer points of kingdom theology?
Furthermore, for this line of criticism to arise when most Christians have re-thought the foreign policy belligerence of the Dubya era illustrates the degree to which it’s offered in (pun intended) bad faith.
Hit the Links
The RNC’s “Ground Zero” of Minority Outreach
Christian Fascist Propaganda is all over TikTok
The 1950s Congressman who explains the Texas GOP’s extremism
The Beginning of the End of Regulation
Thanks for reading
Push Junction grows through word of mouth. Please consider sharing this post with someone who might appreciate it.