James Dobson, a prominent evangelical leader and founder of Focus on the Family known for his conservative views on family, sexuality, and politics, died at 89. He was influential in shaping the religious right's stance on social issues and was a controversial figure due to his outspoken opposition to homosexuality, abortion, and other cultural changes.
The 2024 Republican National Convention is set to be a pivotal event, especially after an assassination attempt on Donald Trump and internal Democratic pressure on Joe Biden to drop out of the race. Key storylines include how the attack will influence the convention's tone, whether Republicans will focus their attacks on Biden or Kamala Harris, and the potential sidelining of traditional social conservative issues in Trump's campaign platform.
Pope Francis, often seen as a reformer, has been criticized by liberals for the Vatican's opposition to gender reassignment surgeries. Despite his left-leaning political views, he remains a theologically conservative Catholic, condemning abortion and upholding traditional Church doctrines. The combination of social conservatism and left-leaning economic and political views is not uncommon among observant Catholics, reflecting the Church's complex stance on contemporary issues.
Russian rapper Vacio faces threats of front-line service in Ukraine after hosting a scandalous "almost naked" party, leading to a swift backlash from the Moscow establishment and potential legal consequences for the host, Instagram influencer Anastasia Ivleeva. The event has sparked controversy amid Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, with attendees facing punishment and backlash from conservative politicians and media figures, while Russian President Vladimir Putin has returned to extreme social conservatism ahead of an upcoming election.
According to a recent Gallup poll, 38% of Americans identify as socially conservative, up from 33% last year, marking the highest percentage since 2012. The percentage of Americans identifying as economically conservative has also increased to 44%, the highest since 2012. The increase in conservative identification on social issues over the past two years is seen among nearly all political and demographic subgroups, with Republicans showing one of the largest increases. The shift is mostly due to increasing social conservatism among Republicans, at a time when social issues such as transgender rights, abortion, and other hot-button concerns are prominent in the national public debate.
