"Separation in the Middle" w/Rachel Laser, CEO/President, Americans United for Separation of Chur...

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In this episode, we sit down with Rachel Laser, President/CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, to explore the importance of the separation of church and state in the United States. We dive into the reasons why this principle is crucial for the well-being of our society and discuss common misconceptions surrounding it. Rachel addresses these misconceptions and shares insights into the mission and goals of Americans United. We also examine the influence of Supreme Court composition on relevant cases and make predictions on how the justices may rule. Additionally, we explore the use of ADA and accommodations in arguments related to church-state separation. Join us as we recap the Groff v. DeJoy case and discuss the recent Kennedy v. Bremerton Supreme Court case, providing a comprehensive understanding of the importance of separation of church and state in our society.

Guest Bio:

Rachel Laser is the President and CEO at Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Rachel Laser is a lawyer, advocate and strategist who has dedicated her career to making our country more inclusive. She has a proven track record of uniting both faith and secular leaders and advocacy organizations to make tangible progress on some of the most important issues of our time. Watch her introduction video! ()

And as a religious minority – she was raised as a Reform Jew –  she understands personally how much it matters that our laws treat everyone fairly and equally. She is an advocate for racial justice and has led workshops, given speeches and worked with schools and universities to challenge racism and expose privilege.

She knows the work of Americans United has never been more important than it is today. And she will work to continue our fight to defeat the many new and serious threats to religious freedom and the separation of church and state coming from the Trump-Pence Administration and across the country.

As the deputy director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (the RAC), Rachel worked to further its historic mission of strengthening the separation of religion and government. She also ran interfaith campaigns on a number of critical issues, including LGBTQ equality, immigration reform, gun violence prevention, and paid sick, family and medical leave.

Support Sarah Stankorb’s work and preorder Damned If She DoesWhy Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, Releases September 15, 2026.  Bookshop.org

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