Faith features prominently as Christian pastors win seats in US midterms
Bible verses littered the acceptance speeches of Christian pastors and leaders who won seats in the US midterm elections. Sojourners lists many candidate and results here. Among the winners are: Methodist minister the Rev Adam Hamilton, the first Democrat to win the Senate sat in Kansas since 1932, who said: “Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you, (Matthew 7:12) .. That’s more commonly known as ‘the golden rule’. What does it look like in Washington if they actually did that?”. James Talarico, a former Presbyterian seminarian, won Texas, the first Democratic win for 38 years in the state, and gave his address on a stage with a large banner proclaiming “Love Thy Neighbour”. He said: “My granddad was a Baptist preacher in South Texas, and when I was little, he told me that we follow a barefoot rabbi who gave us two commandments, love God and love neighbor, because there is no love of God without love of neighbor.” Lutheran minister Rev Sarah Trone Garriott and Presbyterian minister Rev Lindsay James, both Democrats, were elected to the US House in Iowa. Baptist minister Rev Freddie Haynes III also won a seat in the US House, representing Texas.
Muslim and Jewish representation makes headlines in US midterm elections
Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim to be elected to the US Senate, representing Michigan. Muslim Network TV lists seven Muslims elected to the House of Representatives among a total number of 36 Muslims seeking election at every level of American politics. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency says Senator Jon Ossoff in Georgia has “probably just grabbed frontrunner status in the race to become America’s first Jewish president”. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro won secure re-election. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker “cruised to re-election” and in Michigan, Senator Elissa Slotkin campaigned for Abdul El-Sayed. The Agency says that all four have been highly critical of Netanyahu, with Ossoff and Slotkin voting for a curb on various weapons sales to Israel.
Indian American candidates make gains in US midterm elections
News India Times lists victories for Indian American Democrat candidates across the country, picking up seats for the US Congress, governorships and state legislatures. Pia Dandiya became Florida’s first Indian American woman elected to the US House of Representatives. Jyot Singh made history as the first Sikh American elected to Georgia’s General Assembly. And Nabeela Syed, the daughter of Hyderabadi immigrants, won an Illinois State Senate seat at 27. Four incumbent Indian American members of Congress secured re-election.
‘No Popery’ and ‘Know Popery’ in Lewes tonight
Thousands of people are expected in Lewes this evening, for the November 5th tradition of bonfires and processions, put on by local bonfire societies, writes Catherine Pepinster. The custom goes back 300 years and commemorates the thwarting of the Gunpower Plot in 1605. It also remembers the Seventeen Protestants, local martyrs burned at the stake for their faith, during the reign of Mary I in the 1550s. Seventeen flaming crosses are carried through the town in torchlit processions, with hundreds of people from the societies, dressed in historical costume, marching to pipes and drums, taking over the town. The bonfire societies create effigies of politicians and hated characters , burned at various locations around the town. One maintains the tradition of burning an effigy of Pope Paul V, a custom which began amid anti-Catholic feeling in the 19th century, and continues to this day, alongside “no popery” banners in the town. In response, the local Catholic church, St Pancras, holds an annual “Know Popery” event, which this year is a talk on Friday by historic books specialist Dr Barbara Scalvini, on the Lewes Breviary, the only volume from the Cluniac Lewes Priory library, to have survived the dissolution of the monastery in 1537. St Pancras Church will be closed today and all events, including Holy Hour, are cancelled, as the town is locked down in preparation and the building is taken over by the police for their command centre. Parish priest Fr Jonathan Martin said: “The police use our hall as a convenient base for keeping an eye on the top end of the high street. They’re not there because we’re under attack”.
BBC deputy director meets Jewish staff after antisemitism allegations
The Guardian reports that the BBC deputy director general, Rhodri Talfan Davies, has met Jewish staff following the £400,000 settlement with senior producer Lucie Kon, who alleged antisemitic harassment by colleagues after the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023. Her allegations were not upheld, but the BBC admitted shortcomings in how she was treated and the personal impact on her. She left in April 2026 following a departmental restructuring and the settlement was made without admission of liability. The case led to calls for an independent inquiry, but the Guardian reports that, speaking at a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch in London, Mr Davies said there was no evidence of systemic discrimination at the BBC that would warrant an independent inquiry. Yesterday, the Jewish Chronicle quoted Lucie Kon saying she knows “Jews at the BBC who are being investigated for being Zionists” and is worried about former colleagues. She will share her story in an interview with investigative journalist John Ware, at London’s JW3 centre on 3 December, at an event supported by Jewish News. The BBC has said that there is no place for antisemitism. It takes allegations extremely seriously and encourages colleagues to report incidents or concerns.
Hyphen website reflecting British Muslims, holds last festival before closure
Hyphen, the website telling the story of Muslim life in the UK and Europe, held its last festival in London yesterday, weeks before it is due to close down due to its UAE-based backers withdrawing funding. Its journalism was highly regarded, and its content uniquely covered politics, social issues, community concerns and information about the lives and activities of British Muslims. The festival mirrored this editorial approach, with interviews including Naz Shah MP, on building a successful life from tough beginnings while navigating Islamophobia; a paralympic power lifter, Doaa Shayea; and Big Zuu, a TV personality. Panels discussed the need to increase provision of English as a second language to aid integration and engagement; and reviewed the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme, recognising the levels of mistrust and recommending bold action to clarify its scope and purpose. Hyphen says its mission has been to reflect every area of Muslim life in the Uk and Europe, so Muslim readers can see themselves accurately represented and non-Muslims can better understand their neighbours. Editor Burhan Wazir signed out saying it had been an extremely rewarding four years. The festival recording is here
Fabric nightclub’s concert at St Paul’s is a far cry from a rave in the nave
The Times sent correspondent Kaya Burgess to St Paul’s Cathedral to check on what happened when the nightclub Fabric staged a concert with The Cinematic Orchestra. He reports that it was a far cry from the rave in the nave which some had feared, and describes “soaring, dream-like music causing the seated audience to snooze in the pews than awake resting war heroes”. Sandra Lynes Timbrell, director of visitor engagement at the cathedral, said: “There’s no bar, no alcohol. It starts at eight, over by half-past nine. It’s incredibly respectful and very carefully curated.” The report is here
