(RNS) — In anticipating the potential stories of 2025, RNS reporters all offered some variation of how a second Trump administration will affect their respective beats. As a new administration prepares to take power, RNS will be watching both the policies and the personnel emerging from the White House.
When it comes to policy, we will especially be watching how a promised crackdown on immigration will affect religious communities, many of whom are involved in refugee resettlement or immigration services. We will also be watching how the Trump administration approaches the Israel-Hamas war and the ongoing effects of that conflict on America’s religious and interfaith landscape.
In terms of personnel, we have already seen president-elect Trump select a more religiously diverse administration. Catholics are currently the most represented religious group, but there are also evangelicals, mainline Protestants, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and the non-affiliated. Of course, there are those with Christian nationalist leanings among the selections, but it will be interesting to see how the religious diversity will impact the priorities of this Trump administration.
Beyond politics, RNS reporters expect to cover several major events at the Vatican, ongoing hurricane recovery efforts in the U.S. and the spiritual experimentation of an increasingly unaffiliated population.
Adelle M. Banks
Prior to November, I wrote abou …