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Politics

The Wyoming Republican Party’s leadership committee endorsed Brent Bien for governor, Chuck Gray for U.S. House, and Harriet Hageman for U.S. Senate during a virtual meeting Monday evening.

The roughly 50-person voting committee also endorsed Rep. Scott Smith in his bid for state treasurer, Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams in her bid for secretary of state, and Rep. Tom Kelly for superintendent of public instruction.

In releasing the endorsements, the party Central Committee’s majority broke recent tradition – and arguably state law – by choosing to back some Republicans over others before the Aug. 18 primary election is final.

While that law references financial backing, state GOP Chair Bryan Miller told members in April it’s been interpreted to bar endorsements too.

But party leadership is waging an ongoing federal legal challenge in an effort to have that state law overturned as a violation of the party’s First Amendment rights.

Proponents of letting the party endorse people pre-primary have called it a move toward freedom. Opponents have called it an “insider” maneuver, or disrespectful to the law or Republican voters.

Numerous members of the roughly 50-member voting body cast “abstain” and “no” votes during roll calls Monday.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to be endorsing candidates at all,” said Hot Springs County GOP state committeeman Phil Scheel during a debate on whether to endorse Hageman, a sitting U.S. representative, in her run for U.S. Senate. “So I am going to suggest the group vote down this motion.

State Republican Party Vice-Chair Bob Ferguson, who had chaired the candidate endorsement vetting committee, ruled Scheel’s comment out of order.

The state central committee majority already approved a bylaw calling for vetting and endorsements at its convention in April, so Monday’s discussion should have been on Hageman’s merits, said Ferguson.

Niobrara County GOP Chair Janae Miller typed a comment into the Zoom meeting chat.

“Niobrara county constituents have been vocal in their opposition to endorsing

 no matter their excellent or poor performance,” 

wrote Miller. “They want the voters to decide at the polls.”

No conversation on Hageman’s merits unfolded. She won the endorsement with 32 in favor, five (including Scheel) against and 14 members abstaining.

This followed a vetting process in which the party dispatched questionnaires to statewide candidates, asking whether they agree with the 23 planks of the state GOP platform.

[{"type":"text","text":"U.S. House Race"}]

The body voted 33 in favor, four against, to endorse Gray, who is currently Secretary of State. Fourteen members abstained from the vote.

Fremont County GOP Chair Ginger Bennett had called Gray a “stalwart” who comes to Republican Party events, “and he donates, and donates his time.”

State House Rep. Nina Webber, R-Cody, who also attended the meeting as a voting party member, said Gray has been “instrumental in pushing through a lot of the conservative movements.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Park County GOP Chair Vince Vanata endorsed Gray “wholeheartedly.”"}]

Mitch Benson, a state committeeman from Fremont County, said he endorses Gray but disputes things the candidate has said.

“The only thing I want to throw out is, we still have voter drop boxes in Lander,” said Benson.

Gray has made banning drop boxes one of his priorities, and in 2025 applauded the passage of a law designed to do so.

[{"type":"text","text":"Ferguson called Benson’s commentary not germane."}]

“I’m endorsing him, all I’m saying is a lot of the things Chuck has said about voter integrity and getting rid of voter drop boxes is not true,” said Benson.

[{"type":"text","text":"Miller interjected, saying the three-minute limit for debate had passed."}]

Gray is running in a 10-candidate field for the GOP nomination to U.S. House. He faces philanthropist Steve Friess, state Senate President Bo Biteman, Casper businessman Reid Rasner, Teton County-based attorney Frank Chapman, former Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow, Casper-based veterans Kevin Christensen and David Giralt, former legislator Keith Goodenough and Casper man Richard Dodson.

Most candidates completed and submitted those questionnaires to become eligible for the endorsement process. Some did not, like U.S. House candidates Bo Biteman and Keith Goodenough; U.S. Senate candidate Sam Mead; and gubernatorial candidate Eric Barlow.

[{"type":"text","text":"Governor, Secretary, Superintendent"}]

The party committee voted 34-4 with 13 abstaining to endorse Bien for governor. He was part of a consent list with candidates from other races.

The retired Marine Corps colonel faces Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder, former state House Speaker and current Sen. Eric Barlow, and Centennial man Curt Blake in his primary bid.

Bien, Blake and Degenfelder all had submitted questionnaires to the party as part of the process.

[{"type":"text","text":"Barlow did not."}]

“I am a Republican, and I agree with the Republican platform,” Barlow said in a statement earlier this month. “But in a contested Republican primary, the voters should decide. I will not seek or accept an endorsement from the Wyoming Republican Party before receiving the votes of Wyoming’s Republican electorate.”

Sheridan County GOP state committeeman Tod Windsor asked the party to make a vote opposing Barlow’s campaign.

“I ask we consider Eric Barlow,” began Windsor – a woman gasped – “someone we’re in opposition to as the party.”

Vanata seconded that. Fremont County state committeewoman and former legislator Sarah Penn said Democrats in her area support Barlow.

[{"type":"text","text":"Benson said Barlow brushed aside a concern he raised earlier this year."}]

Scheel and Teton County GOP Chair Kat Rueckert both raised concerns against the opposition vote. Rueckert worried the Barlow campaign may sue the party.

A Washakie County delegate, Richard George, said opposing Barlow could “diminish” the party if Barlow is elected governor.

Natrona County delegate Marcia Neumiller called it “throwing mud” and urged the party to set a higher example.

“Aaannnnnd, the press is here recording all this,” wrote Nichole Odom in a soon-deleted chat message.

Miller had notified the committee before debate that Cowboy State Daily was present.

Benson uttered a profane comment right after Scheel voted not to oppose Barlow.

It’s uncertain what the comment was. Cowboy State Daily heard it as “f*ck you (inaudible).

Multiple members called Benson out of line. Ferguson warned him not to disrupt the meeting again.

[{"type":"text","text":"The motion failed."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Treasurer, Secretary, Superintendent"}]

The party approved endorsements for state Treasurer candidate Scott Smith, Secretary of State candidate Rachel Williams (also known as Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams) and Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Rep. Tom Kelly.

[{"type":"text","text":"Those were part of the same consent list as Bien."}]

In a separate vote, the party majority voted 12-25 against endorsing current Treasurer Curt Meier in his bid for reelection. Meier had been removed from the consent list after Benson called his aye-vote 

[{"type":"text","text":"Giralt, So Close"}]

Crook County Republican Party Chair Mark Koep asked the committee to vote in favor of supporting, rather than endorsing, Giralt for U.S. House.

“David Girlat didn’t’ meet all the vetting criteria because he doesn’t have enough history in the state,” said Koep, adding that he’s spoken to Giralt and “he seems like a good Republican. But right now I’m kind of guessing, because I don’t have enough history on it.”

Other members called Giralt engaged his military career “impressive.” 

The committee voted 17-18 against extending a gesture of support to Giralt.

Weston County GOP Chair Kari Drost asked the committee to vote against closing the meeting, saying they should consider endorsing Degenfelder.

Benson agreed, saying his precinct committee people are entrusting the state delegates with vetting candidates thoroughly no matter how long it takes.

[{"type":"text","text":"George countered."}]

“I completely disagree with that last comment. I think if there’s anybody in this state that needs to vet the candidates, it’s the people. The people are going to do a fine job at it. We don’t always agree with it,” said George. “But to suggest that people are depending on the party to vet candidates I think is an assumption of power and responsibility that’s not delegated to us.”

[{"type":"text","text":"The committee voted 24-19, nine abstaining, to close the meeting."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Degenfelder’s endorsement bid did not get a hearing."}]

Koep referenced a Cowboy State Daily “author” present in the meeting and suggested a retraction of the headline in a Monday story titled “Candidate Worries Wyoming GOP Doing ‘Pay To Play’ Endorsements.”

Koep said because the party voted against endorsing Meier, “that would fly in the face of that article.”

The story, rather, referenced the fact that, according to emails by party leaders, candidates’ past donations to the party have been approved as one of the vetting committee’s criterion.

It also cited a concern by Christensen that allowing that criterion creates a perception of a “pay to play” endorsement system.

Cowboy State Daily’s reporting drew from the party’s own emails, Christensen’s comments, and other candidates’ comments.

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Cowboy State Daily is Wyoming’s largest newspaper with Wyoming’s most experienced journalists. 

<title>Wyoming GOP Endorses Brent Bien, Chuck Gray, And Harriet Hageman | Cowboy State Daily</title>

The Wyoming Republican Party leadership endorsed Brent Bien for governor, Chuck Gray for U.S. House, and Harriet Hageman for U.S. Senate on Monday evening. The controversial move breaks current tradition and maybe state law.

Wyoming GOP Endorses Brent Bien, Chuck Gray, And Harriet Hageman

As the Wyoming Republican Party breaks recent tradition — and arguably state law — to vet and endorse certain candidates before the primary election this year, some candidates are refusing to participate.

An at least one U.S. House candidate, Kevin Christensen, fears the process has devolved into a pay-to-play system. Christensen forwarded Cowboy State Daily a Friday email state GOP executive director Ginger Bennett sent on the party’s behalf, listing “Past donations to the State or County parties” as part of the endorsement vetting criteria the GOP state central committee has approved.

Christensen had participated in the vetting process by sending back the party's questionnaire, which consists of yes-or-no blanks for indicating whether one agrees with each of the 23 state platform planks. Christensen agrees with the planks altogether, his questionnaire says. 

The vetting committee declined to call for his endorsement, Bennett’s email indicates.  

“I am disappointed that the Republican Party would choose to adopt criteria for evaluation candidates that are not explicitly authorized in Article 2 of their bylaws; and that those criteria would include contributions as a measure of, presumably, your loyalty to the party,” he said. “Creating a perception, at least for me, that we now have a pay-to-play system for an endorsement.”

Christensen is running against nine other candidates for GOP nomination to Wyoming’s lone U.S. House seat.

The primary election, set for Aug. 18 this year, allows the voters who are registered Republican and Democrat to choose their respective nominees in each partisan office. Wyoming doesn’t let its major parties nominate candidates.

State law also bars the major parties from financially backing one of their registrants over another during the primary cycle.

The state party’s endorsement process of this year, if it involves any expense, may violate that law.

However, the state party is currently waging a federal legal litigation attempt to have that law overturned. It cites noteworthy case law upholding other major parties’ functions as First Amendment rights.

[{"type":"text","text":"The case is ongoing."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Some Loyalists, Some Caveats"}]

Eight U.S. House candidates turned in a questionnaire the party sent them. The questionnaire consists of yes-or-no blanks under each of the state party’s 23 platform planks, as well as lines reserved for additional comment.

Christensen, philanthropist Steve Friess, Secretary of State Chuck Gray, Casper businessman Reid Rasner, military veteran David Giralt, and Teton County-based attorney Frank Chapman all marked 100% agreement with the party’s platform.

Former Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow marked one no, on a plank declaring state primacy over lands in Wyoming that were unappropriated to the state when it entered the union.

“I do not support selling or transferring federal land to the State,” she wrote. Balow agreed with plank 8’s assertion that “Marriage is defined as the union of one man and one woman,” but noted in a caveat that current law doesn’t say that.

State Senate President Bo Biteman didn’t send the party back its questionnaire. Neither did Casper-based candidate Keith Goodenough.

Biteman said in a Monday text message, “I can remember when Republicans criticized Democrats for having party insiders and power brokers trying to pick nominees from the top down. I don’t think we should become what we used to criticize.”

“My focus is on earning the support of Wyoming voters, not on internal party politics,” said Biteman, adding that the party should be working to grow its ranks, not predetermine the primary election outcome. “At the end of the day, I trust the voters.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"… And The Spicy One"}]

Richard Dodson sent back a questionnaire full of caveats. He’s not alone in feeling that the platform contains many inconsistencies: that’s 

 GOP candidates during the questionnaire rollout.

The first plank says “All individuals are endowed by their Creator from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death with the rights to Life, Liberty, Property and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

Dodson marked agreement. But, he added, “I think vesting property rights at conception is opening a big can of worms.”

Other Republicans have voiced concern with how plank 1’s language suggests opposition to the death penalty.

Plank 23 says “The Wyoming Republican Party opposes any federal takeover or interference of federal, state, or local elections.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Dodson agrees, his questionnaire says."}]

“Which is why I’m puzzled by the sheer number of Wyoming Republicans who support the SAVE Act which is the most egregious takeover attempt of state election authority I’ve ver (sic) seen,” he wrote. “What’s up with that?”

Dodson told Cowboy State Daily in a Monday phone interview that he “didn’t expect much” from this process but is filling out all questionnaires so that he can get voters’ attention in the crowded race. His brand of Republican is “pragmatic,” he said, and he’s finding a base for it.

“I answered the questions based off my true thoughts without much regard to whether anybody else would like them,” said Dodson.

Gabe Saint manages Gray’s campaign, but he spoke to Cowboy State Daily on Monday in his individual capacity.

He’s voiced repeated concerns via Facebook that the party plans to endorse more than one U.S. House candidate.

[{"type":"text","text":"He declined to say Monday what informs those concerns."}]

“The Wyoming Republican party is the best GOP in the  nation,” said Saint. “I think it’s very representative of the people of Wyoming, and I just want to see the party and the grassroots movement rally behind our conservative candidates and only do one endorsement. Don’t split any votes; just take everything to the finish line.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Gray did not respond by publication to an email request for comment."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Veteran"}]

Bennett’s email telling Christesen he wouldn’t be getting the endorsement had listed other criteria besides donations to the party.

For example, it listed past donations to other parties or candidates, previous involvement with party committees, and legislative record breakdowns according to various sites. Those sites include Washington-DC-based Club for Growth Foundation.

“I talked with (state GOP Chairman) Bryan Miller,” said Christensen. “I said ‘Bryan. We are the election integrity party. It’s front and center…. You use sources outside the state of Wyoming – people who are not allowed to vote in Wyoming – to influence the vote in Wyoming, that is inconsistent with our voter integrity position as the Republican Party.’”

Miller declined Monday to respond to a series of questions sent to him and to Bennett ahead of the GOP central committee’s endorsement meeting Monday evening. Cowboy State Daily will update this story if Miller lends timely comment.

Christensen sent a Saturday email to Bennett and Miller asking the vetting committee to reconsider

The bylaw calling for vetting and endorsement says criteria “shall include but are not limited to: commitment to the Wyoming Republican Party Platform, demonstrated loyalty to the Party’s principles, legal eligibility to hold office, and for incumbents, their voting record.”

Christensen’s time in both military and federal service had barred him from partisan activities as well, he noted.  

“For those Republicans who have served their country in the military and also in federal service, who were restricted from political activity, this criteria… has a chilling effect on bringing some of the most talented people available to run for office,” said Christensen.

GOP convention 5 4 25 26 3

<title>Candidate Worries Wyoming GOP Doing 'Pay To Play' Endorsements | Cowboy State Daily</title>

As the Wyoming Republican Party breaks recent tradition — and arguably state law — to endorse candidates before the primary, some won't participate. “We now have a pay-to-play system for an endorsement,” one candidate worried aloud.

Candidate Worries Wyoming GOP Doing 'Pay To Play' Endorsements

Around 18 months before he won the Republican nomination to a seat in the Wyoming House of Representatives in 2022, Daniel Singh told a podcaster friend that he was pro-choice, progressive, and believed hard drugs should be legal.  

The Cheyenne man, who is now eyeing a contested state Senate seat, said he wanted to build a network of progressives in Cheyenne, according to 

 Cowboy State Daily first accessed Friday.

Singh first won the GOP nomination for House District 61 on Aug. 16, 2022, over two other candidates. He went on to win the general election and was sworn into office in early 2023.  

 of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus during his freshman term.

The caucus is a bloc of House Republicans whose website says they “plan together, work together, and pray together in pursuit of policies that promote truth by protecting life, private property rights, and Judeo-Christian family values.”

 but still aligns with it generally — in about January of this year.

[{"type":"text","text":"‘Far-Right Fascist Figure'"}]

About two years before entering office, Singh had described himself as a pro-choice progressive willing to legalize hard drugs. 

He specifically denied being a conservative. That’s according to the podcast by Singh’s longtime, and former, friend Toby Thompson, who is also from Cheyenne but now lives in Georgia.

Upon request, Thompson sent Cowboy State Daily a screenshot of the recording’s data that indicates it was recorded Feb. 28, 2021.

“I have a good one for you today,” begins Thompson’s voiceover introduction to the podcast interview, which he did not publish until Sept. 20, 2024 — after Singh’s second primary election win.

“What you’re about to hear is an interview I conducted with Wyoming House District 61 Representative Daniel Singh,” said Thompson. “This was actually supposed to be the first episode of (podcast) 'Nobody Talks Religion and Politics,' but Daniel asked me to shelve it at the time because he believed it would make it harder to manipulate Republican voters into electing him.”

Thompson said that as Singh’s friend, he complied with that request.

“But after watching him devolve from a progressive leader I could believe in into a far-right fascist figure, I feel my responsibility as a writer and proud Wyomingite outweighs Daniel’s request as my friend,” said Thompson. 

He said he wasn’t publishing the podcast to sabotage Singh and didn’t believe he had enough listeners to influence what was then the upcoming general election.

Thompson said he was publishing it, rather, so Singh would listen to it “and be reminded of the man he was at the start of his political journey.”

[{"type":"text","text":"In a Friday phone interview, Thompson doubled down."}]

“I think Daniel Singh is excellent at political maneuvering and like, reading the writing on the wall,” said Thompson, adding that he believes Singh aligned with the Freedom Caucus to ride “the rise of MAGA politics,” and that he will “ride whatever political wave will keep him in power.”

[{"type":"text","text":"‘I’m Definitely Committed To The Republican Party'"}]

Singh countered in a Friday phone interview, noting that he doesn’t now associate with Thompson, and insisted that he does not hold the views captured in that interview.

“I’m definitely committed to the Republican Party,” said Singh, adding that being pro-life and other party planks aren’t just stances, they’re “timeless truths.”

Singh said he recorded that podcast before getting involved with the Republican Party, and he’s changed his views over time as he’s learned what matters to his community.

“Ronald Reagan started out as a Democrat, and became one of the most influential conservatives of our time,” said Singh. “And people change their minds.”

Singh registered to vote as a Republican in Laramie County in 2016 and has not changed his party affiliation, the Laramie County Clerk’s office confirmed Monday.

[{"type":"text","text":"Singh is 29. He was 24 during the interview with Thompson."}]

 Singh is now running for state Senate in a primary election contest against Republican incumbent Sen. Evie Brennan. The election is Aug. 18. 

Singh’s 2022 and 2024 GOP campaign opponent Matt Malcom told Cowboy State Daily he believes Singh doesn’t believe the Freedom Caucus’ positions.

“I think he’s putting on a show in order to galvanize more support around the issues he cares about,” said Malcom.

Malcom said he campaigned on more moderate positions than Singh in their races.

Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, cast Singh’s Freedom Caucus alignment as a political opportunity.

“It’s really disheartening to see someone throw their personal political beliefs away because they saw an opportunity to join the Freedom Caucus,” said Provenza. “This out-of-state machine that will help them get elected — assuming that’s what Daniel’s beliefs are, or were.”

Provenza added, “It just begs the question of if this system works at all? It’s just sad.”

The Freedom Caucus amassed significant momentum in 2024, telling the public it had gained control of the House. It is part of a larger national network of Freedom Caucus chapters.

House Appropriations Chair and former Freedom Caucus leader John Bear, R-Gillette, ventured a cautious guess on the contrast between Singh’s interview and his generally conservative voting record.

“I would guess he wasn’t masquerading (as a conservative in the Legislature) because he hasn’t changed his voting significantly from when he was more aligned … with the Freedom Caucus,” said Bear.

Singh also made comments during Thompson’s podcast about being an atheist and a stoic. Bear voiced confusion over that, saying his view of Singh’s personal life has indicated Christian missionary activities.

[{"type":"text","text":"“That doesn’t make sense,” said Bear."}]

Singh told Cowboy State Daily on Friday that he is a Christian now, having “had to humble myself and learn firsthand not only what it is I believe, and my personal relationship with God. But how does that apply to my political theory.”

Thompson asked early during the podcast interview what issues matter most to Singh.

“I find myself talking a lot about women having access to abortion, gun laws ... “ began Singh.

[{"type":"text","text":"Thompson interrupted, telling Singh to talk about abortion."}]

“Women have to have access to the medical procedure of an abortion,” said Singh. 

He said that pro-lifers have good intentions, but women denied legal access to abortions will get them illegally and reap worse medical consequences.

“It’s a medical practice and women’s lives are on the line, and this is a decision an individual needs to be able to make,” he said.

During his first legislative session in 2023, Singh cosponsored the Life Is a Human Right Act — a near-total ban on abortion into which the Senate added exemptions for rape and incest — along with a similar ban on abortion pills. 

The Wyoming Supreme Court declared both bans unconstitutional on Jan. 6 of this year, citing the Wyoming Constitution’s promise of health care autonomy.

Singh told Cowboy State Daily on Friday, “I’m definitely pro-life, 100% pro-life. I feel like my voting record reflects that.”

He has voted in favor of pro-life legislation every year since his election.

During his interview with Thompson, Singh voiced passion for gun rights, saying people should be able to have whatever weapons they can afford, and that if everyone is armed, then people may be safer altogether.

While different Republicans vary, the party tends to favor gun rights and gun access.

Singh had told Thompson, according to the podcast recording, that former President Richard Nixon’s war on drugs was a “waste of resources obviously” and an embarrassment.

“Why should the government have a problem if someone smokes some weed on their couch, or does some mushrooms on their weekend in the forest, or even like, smokes some crack in their garage?” Singh had told Thompson. “If they’re not hurting — not doing something that’s actually a crime other than like the drug itself — why are we treating them like animals?”

Society should treat drug addiction like a health problem instead, he said.

In his interview Friday, Singh said he wants the state to reform its drug classifications and “we need to at least get to where President Trump has moved cannabis.”

The president has reclassified many marijuana products as schedule III, meaning they’re recognized as having a medical purpose. Wyoming has chosen against following suit, keeping the drug in the schedule I, non-medical class.

Singh said there are people in Wyoming who use marijuana and aren’t a danger to society, and that, “I don’t think we should treat them like criminals.”

That matches his legislative record. He’s repeatedly tried to run legislation to allow and regulate “consumable hemp” products.

[{"type":"text","text":"Singh differed Friday from his 2021 stance on “crack,” or cocaine."}]

“Crack is a problem. We don’t want crack,” Singh said with a laugh. “Crack actually destroys communities.”

He added, “But using the war on drugs to infringe upon civil liberties is something I disagree with.”

[{"type":"text","text":"On Party Politics"}]

Singh told Thompson in 2021 that he’d like to see the establishment of an explicitly progressive party in Cheyenne. He criticized the national mainstream Democratic establishment.

He also said “a bunch of, like, 60-year-old ranch hands that have a very, like, particular view of how the world works” have had the power to dictate what it means to be from Wyoming.

“But the people who don’t agree with … the Judeo-Christian, white nationalistic view of what America is but would rather see America be different,” said Singh, “our voices are pretty much suppressed.”

Wyoming’s political binary isn’t between Republican and Democrat, but between Republicans and “progressives with the support of the Democratic party,” said Singh. 

He said progressives can often explain their stances to conservatives “if you frame your arguments right.”

“If we want political change we need energy, we need bravery, we need boldness, we need charisma; like, we need to fight as if we’re fighting for real political power and we have a chance to win it,” said Singh. “Because we do have a chance to win it.”

Singh voiced support for nuclear energy, a nationwide high-speed rail system, and automating farming. He said he’s not opposed to the government owning land, “if it’s for, like, state parks. Stuff like that.”

Singh in recent months has voiced a strong Christian faith on his political Facebook page. He told Cowboy State Daily on Friday that is sincere.

In 2021, he told Thompson he identified as a stoic, meaning: “living according to virtue, and according to nature.” 

Rep. Daniel Singh, an incumbent Republican from Cheyenne who was once a member of the Freedom Caucus, says he's changed since identifying as a pro-choice, progressive atheist in a recently surfaced 2021 podcast interview. "People change their minds," he said.

Sean Richard Doughten, 45