Faith & Politics Archives

Conservative think tank: Immigration ‘undermined Christianity’

By Cassy Benefield & Aaron Hedge ● Faith & Politics ● December 12, 2025

The Family Policy Institute of Washington is publishing articles that assert the US is white, Christian and non-Muslim.

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The battle for a North Idaho city’s identity

By Aaron Hedge & Jenny Davis ● Faith & Politics ● November 19, 2025

Recent elections in Moscow, Idaho tell a very different story about the town than the national news’ attention to Doug Wilson’s Christ Church would suggest.

SpoVal pastor helps push initiatives to erode student privacy

By Aaron Hedge & Cassy Benefield ● Faith & Politics ● November 15, 2025

Partnering with Let’s Go Washington, the Family Policy Institute of Washington is working to require proof of biological sex for girls’ sports and to require schools to notify parents if their children seek medical care.

Charlie Kirk’s Pacific Northwest ground game

By Aaron Hedge ● Extremism ● September 21, 2025

The far right activist organized his faith operations with the help of under-the-radar characters from places like Eastern Washington. Kirk’s hate toward marginalized groups was not unique — the people he mobilized to battle communities are his true legacy.

Lawyer for Christian nationalist evangelist named US attorney for Eastern WA

By Aaron Hedge ● Criminal Legal ● August 13, 2025

Pasco Mayor Pete Serrano, who represented the anti-queer worship pastor Sean Feucht in a lawsuit against Spokane, will oversee all federal cases in Eastern WA, including those of the Spokane 9.

For and by Christians: How Idaho’s influential Christian Nationalist group wants to reshape the state

By Daniel Walters ● Faith & Politics ● August 5, 2025

With powerful allies in the pulpit and the Pentagon, the Idaho Family Policy Center seizes its moment

Time-share presentation or good Christian representation of the gospel?

By Aaron Hedge ● Faith & Politics ● June 10, 2025

Thousands of local believers gathered for Life Surge at the Spokane Arena to hear the Lord’s messengers on why it’s biblical to be wealthy. Some of the presenters were openly pro-wealth and anti-queer.

With new campus, Pastor Doug Wilson’s Christian Valhalla grows in Idaho

By Tracy Simmons ● Faith & Politics ● June 2, 2025

As Christian nationalism has taken a front stage at the national level, a local pastor is expanding his influence and his Moscow empire

Home Church: The tax man says a religious ‘retreat’ must pay

By Aaron Hedge ● Faith & Politics ● October 10, 2024

Spokane apostle Cal Pierce bought a $1M home through his nonprofit Healing Rooms Ministries — a 25-year project with a global presence and ties to far-right Christianity. He tried to exempt it from property taxes, but Washington denied his application.

What dominionism and the New Apostolic Reformation are and what they have to do with Spokane

By Aaron Hedge ● Faith & Politics ● September 12, 2024

Everything you need to know about the hard-right flavor of Christian nationalism that has remade national conservative politics, fueled Trump and has passionate local adherents.