If you'd like, I'd be glad to loop you in the next time we organize something like that.

Earlier this year, I helped lead an effort to pressure members of Congress to take action after an Iranian Christian convert was deported to Panama. Sadly, even Republicans who regularly speak about religious liberty didn't want to touch the issue. Rep. Ansari's office, however, was very responsive!

Yes, Farnaz Fassihi at the New York Times has done excellent reporting on this. What's been especially striking is the silence from many conservative Christian leaders who are usually quite vocal about religious freedom.

And yes, Elam Ministries is a nonprofit that supports Christians in Iran. It's actually surprising to me that I hadn't come across them before, since this is something I'm pretty passionate about and a big part of why I was drawn to learning Persian in the first place.

I know a little! My learning was interrupted by family commitments over the past year, but I've recently started picking it back up again. :)

I checked out Fairouz’s Christmas album and it’s lots of fun. Thanks for the recommendation!

The Farsi album is “Isa Be Donya Amadeh” by Elam Music. The adaptation of O Holy Night is especially beautiful and, in my opinion, theologically richer than the original.

Of course, Van Epps could win by half a percentage point tonight and Trump will claim that it’s a stunning victory for which he deserves all the credit.

It’s amusing that Republicans are so worried about this race.

Sure, it will be closer than usual, but I very much doubt a DSA-endorsed candidate can flip TN-07.

Almost any pie is better than pumpkin pie. Pumpkin pie is slop.

He’s a colossal asshole.

At least the economy is booming and prices are dropping.

Oh, shit.