Tuesday Evening, September 30, 2025

MRFF RECEIVES MASS MEDIA COVERAGE;

FROM HEGSETH'S “NO MORE BEARDOS” EDICT TO DUFFY’S LATEST GIANT JESUS ANTICS

AT THE U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY

Coverage by:

The Forward, Military.com,
Christian Post, Jonathan Larsen

“We don’t have a military full of Nordic pagans.”

— Pete Hegseth on religious exemptions for beards, which allow Orthodox Jews and Sikhs to practice their religions while serving

Hegseth speaks to military top brass at Marine Corps Base Quantico.

(Photo credit dvidshub.net. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense

(DoW) visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement.)

THE FORWARD

COVERS MRFF

Hegseth says ‘no more beardos’ in the military.

What about religious exemptions?

By: Hannah Feuer

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

[Article summary]

Hegseth’s “no more beardos” edict and MRFF’s Mikey Weinstein’s response, from the article (emphasis added):

“If you want a beard, you can join Special Forces. If not, then shave,” Hegseth said. “We don’t have a military full of Nordic pagans.”

The directive ignored a significant nuance: courts have granted Orthodox Jews and Sikhs who serve religious exemptions allowing them to keep their beards.

“It’s not a small thing about, ‘Oh, can you have a beard? Or what about my hair?’” said Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, a watchdog group that exposes Christian nationalism in the armed forces. “This is a comprehensive, universal attack on anyone who is not straight, white, Christian and male.”

EXCLUSIVE CHRISTIAN BIGOTRY
AT U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY

ON SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

SEAN DUFFY's OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE

Posted Today, September 30, 2025

Actual Screenshot of Video

on Sec. Duffy's Facebook Page

MILITARY.COM

COVERS MRFF

Giant Jesus Painting at Marine Academy
May Provoke Legal Response

By:  Nick Mordowanec

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

[Article summary]

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s decision to return the large “Christ on the Water” painting to a main meeting room at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy—after it was relocated to a chapel basement under the Biden administration—was harshly rebuked by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF).

MRFF founder Mikey Weinstein condemned the move as “Christian nationalist exhibitionism,” accusing Duffy of using the academy to promote Christian supremacy in violation of the separation of church and state. Weinstein said MRFF has been contacted by Jewish and other minority members of the academy expressing concern and confirmed that the foundation is considering federal litigation to challenge what it views as an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.

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CHRISTIAN POST

COVERS MRFF

Merchant Marine Academy restores historic

'Christ on the Water' painting removed under Biden

By: Ryan Foley

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

[Article summary]

After the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) successfully had it removed in 2023, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy has reinstated the giant Christ On The Water painting at Wiley Hall. The painting had been moved under pressure from the MRFF, which since 2005 has been advocating for strict separation of church and state our U.S. Military.

MRFF's Mikey Weinstein condemned the restoration, calling it an act of Christian nationalism and warned that MRFF is considering aggressive federal litigation.

JONATHAN LARSEN

COVERS MRFF

Alert Issued for Fringe Cult’s Recruiting Arm

By: Jonathan Larsen

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

[Article excerpts]

America’s parents slept a little less securely last night.

An advocacy group issued a dire warning on Monday, alerting parents and young people of a coordinated, strategic effort to groom and brainwash new recruits into the fringe beliefs of a dwindling but still dangerous cult.

The so-called “Keep Away” warning was issued by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) after one of the cult’s lieutenants, Transportation Secretary Sean “Yes, I Danced Naked on MTV but Now I’m Grown Up and Shut Down Airports for a Living” Duffy, celebrated white Christian nationalism’s takeover of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy by rehanging a massive painting of White Jesus™ at the school.

[...]

MRFF Founder and President Mikey Weinstein called his group’s notice a “serious parental warning to ‘keep away’ to the mothers, fathers, and guardians of any prospective U.S. Merchant Marine Academy candidates for admission, lest they allow their children to try to attend the unconstitutional, fundamentalist Christian nationalist filth-saturated institution that the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy has tragically devolved into.”

[...]

Anyone who was considering the Merchant Marine Academy might want to consider a less culty institution such as the U.S. Air Force Academy. Haaaaa!!! No, don’t do that.

Jonathan Larsen has worked at CNN, MSNBC, and TYT. He created Up with Chris Hayes, helped launch Anderson Cooper 360, was a senior producer on Countdown with Keith Olbermann, and was managing editor/executive producer at TYT. His original reporting has been cited by members of Congress resisting Christian nationalism.

“Statement of Gratitude from MRFF Representative

 at U.S. Merchant Marine Academy”

From: (name withheld)

Subject: Statement of Gratitude from MRFF Representative at U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

Date: September 30, 2025 at 4:53:28 PM MDT

To: Mikey Weinstein (mikey@militaryreligiousfreedom.org)

As a graduate, I want to sincerely thank you for all that you and the MRFF do for our alumni, midshipmen, staff, and faculty. Your tireless efforts and steadfast commitment ensure that our community is supported, protected, and uplifted in ways that matter deeply. Please know that your work makes a real and lasting impact, and it is deeply appreciated.

About that “less culty institution” that Jonathan Larsen sarcastically referred to ...

Previous MRFF coverage of Christian supremacist transportation secretary Sean Duffy and his crusade to make giant Jesus unconstitutional again

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