Dissent Dispatch

How a fleeting cartoon and a stand-up routine triggered government crackdowns on freedom of expression.

Texas has voted to require Bible readings in public schools, while a federal Religious Liberty Commission is advancing recommendations that would further blur the line between church and state.

A chaotic Oxford Union debate raises questions about free expression, while Ashura offers a reminder of the strange—and sometimes harmful—rituals and divisions religion can create.

As a possible peace deal takes shape, we consider what it could mean for Iran’s future—and for those hoping for a secular, democratic state.