1/ The Faith Baptist Files:

Last year, Summit Church under J.D. Greear attempted a “merger” with Faith Baptist Church in Knightdale, NC.

My clients sued over FBC’s dissolution, later pursuing the case into bankruptcy court.

Here’s how discovery in the case was made public. 2/ In April 2024, after three must-win state court hearings, the FBC members @AdamBanks39 and I represented won a preliminary injunction.

@RevolverNewsUSA previously reported how David Gibbs III, lawyer for FBC’s pro-“merger” leadership, delayed review of a proposed PI order.

1/ Eighty years ago today, on August 6, 1945, Hiroshima was destroyed by an atomic bomb.

What’s often forgotten: many on the American Right—including those published in National Review—criticized President Harry Truman’s decision to use nuclear weapons.

MORE: 2/ During a speech in October 1946, Senator Robert A. Taft, known as "Mr. Republican," called the bombings a departure "from the principles of fair and equal treatment which have made America respected throughout the world before this Second World War."

1/ @PCAByFaith, the flagship publication of U.S. presbyterianism’s conservative wing, recently ran a piece lauding COVID-19 mitigation, including masks, while urging pastors to fight “misinformation.”

It’s an apologetic for pandemic tyranny.

But there’s even more going on here. 2/ Start with the piece.

Rev. Dr. Gregory Poland, a vaccine researcher (more on that below), calls on Christians to embrace pandemic measures.

At the outset, Poland decries “the rise of individualism and narcissism” and “the false belief in the democratization of expertise.”

1/ Six years ago today, we lost NC Congressman Walter Jones.

Originally from Farmville, and representing a heavily military district, Jones became an Iraq War critic, foreshadowing MAGA alongside @RonPaul.

@BillKristol and others worked to primary Jones. Jones won anyway.
2/ I heard Jones speak at an event in 2004, the night after Bush won re-election.

Jones did not criticize the war specifically that night, but objected to federal spending and called for abolishing the Department of Education.

Later, he famously turned on the Iraq War.

1/ An NC Court of Appeals opinion from yesterday illustrates hurdles to COVID-19 vaccine lawsuits.

The court held that a minor who got a jab against his will and his mom's wishes cannot bring legal claims against those who administered the shot.

Why? The PREP Act.

More: 2/ The case involves a then-14-year-old high school football player.

In August 2021, after a COVID-19 outbreak in the football team, Guilford County Schools announced players could not practice again “until cleared by a public health professional.”

Testing was offered.

1/ Russell Moore (@DrMoore) is a “public theologian,” whose views on the Iraq War are not widely known, particularly by the elite audiences he writes to.

In a 2003 interview on the War’s eve, @DrMoore laid out his support for invading Iraq, invoking Romans 13 in the process. 2/ In the interview, @DrMoore defended George W. Bush, referencing the “agonizing process” the Bush Administration engaged in at the @UN.

“Some of us turn on the television and see one more Security Council meeting and say ‘when is this ever going to end’,” Moore said.

1/ The NC GOP supermajority’s budget deal contains so-called “medical freedom” provisions that fail to protect working people.

The legislature is also giving more tax dollars to the NC Symphony, which fired 3 musicians for declining COVID-19 vaccines on faith grounds.

More: 2/ Start with the medical freedom parts of the bill. Simply put, if you are employed by a private, non-state entity, the employment protections in the budget deal don’t apply to you.

This bill doesn’t stop private businesses from mandating COVID-19 vaccines, testing, or masks.

1/ I represent world-class musicians who wowed audiences at the @NCSymphony for years.

The taxpayer-funded Symphony says it serves “all of North Carolina.”

But my clients can’t play in the orchestra anymore.

Why? They respectfully declined the COVID-19 shot.

The story: 2/ My clients have decades of experience as classical musicians. It takes extraordinary talent and determination to perform at this level.
 
2020 was hard enough for my clients, when the @NCSymphony ceased live performances to play for audiences online.

2021 was even worse.

1/ @DavidAFrench’s #TwitterFiles thread is emblematic of his shrug-your-shoulders approach to the law of Big Tech censorship.

French’s legal views on Silicon Valley are in tension with his prior positions, including with a 2005 book he co-authored while at @TheFIREorg.

https://twitter.com/DavidAFrench/status/1607840209453912064

2/ French says the #TwitterFiles show “pervasive jawboning”—“government efforts to convince or cajole private actors to change their behavior”— but that analysis of the files “contains…little nuance.” French then invites us to consider the government speech doctrine.

Pleased to represent medical doctor and research scientist @andrewbostom who @Twitter suspended under its COVID-19 misinformation policy over a tweet summarizing a peer-reviewed study. For the reasons outlined in my four-page letter below, @Twitter should reinstate his account.