(The Daily Signal)—The FBI announced Wednesday that it had cut all ties with the Anti-Defamation League, a welcomed development. However, the FBI should also cut ties with an even worse organization, the Southern Poverty Law Center.
While the ADL has twisted the facts to promote a leftist narrative, attacking critics of transgender ideology and straining to find any excuse to deny the Nashville transgender shooter was driven by left-wing extremism, the SPLC has a long and ignominious history of demonizing conservatives and carrying water for Antifa.
Based on the FBI’s decision to cut ties with the ADL, it should also distance itself from the SPLC.
The ADL
“James Comey disgraced the FBI by writing ‘love letters’ to the ADL and embedding agents with an extreme group functioning like a terrorist organization and the disgraceful operation they ran spying on Americans,” FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital earlier this week. “That was not law enforcement, it was activism dressed up as counterterrorism, and it put Americans in danger.”
Comey declared his and the FBI’s “love” for the ADL at the organization’s leadership summit in Washington, D.C., in May 2017. He called a previous 2014 speech a “love letter to the ADL.”
“Three years later I can say, from the perspective of the FBI, we’re still in love with you,” he said.
“That era is finished,” Patel said this week. “This FBI formally rejects Comey’s policies and any partnership with the ADL.”
As The Daily Signal exclusively reported last year, the ADL flagged “online amplifiers of LGBTQ+ hate” as extremists to be examined by law enforcement.
The ADL pushed law enforcement to scrutinize opponents of transgender ideology such as The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh and The Manhattan Institute’s Christopher Rufo.
Why the SPLC Is Worse
The SPLC is arguably even worse than the ADL.
The SPLC gained a reputation for suing Ku Klux Klan chapters into bankruptcy in the 1980s, and it developed the Klanwatch project to monitor Klan groups. “Klanwatch” morphed into “Hatewatch” and the “Intelligence Project,” which publishes an annual map of “hate groups” and “antigovernment extremist groups” across the country.
Yet the map includes far more than just truly racist and hateful organizations like the Klan. Starting in the early 2000s, the SPLC added organizations that oppose illegal immigration to the map. In 2010, it added a host of “anti-LGBT hate groups” to the map, including the Family Research Council. It added organizations that oppose radical Islamist terrorism, such as the Center for Security Policy, as “anti-Muslim hate groups.”
In 2012, a terrorist targeted the Family Research Council using the “hate map.” The SPLC condemned the attack, but kept the council on the map.
In recent years, the “hate map” has grown even more expansive. The SPLC put Moms for Liberty and other parental rights groups on the map in 2023, just two years after the National School Boards Association compared concerned parents to domestic terrorists in a since-retracted memo. This year, the SPLC added Turning Point USA to the “hate map.” A few months later, an assassin with a transgender boyfriend allegedly murdered Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
The SPLC does not call for violence against organizations on the map, but it has repeatedly stated that the map reveals the “infrastructure upholding white supremacy.”
The comparison between mainstream conservative organizations and the Ku Klux Klan is arguably defamatory, and the SPLC is currently defending itself in court after calling the Dustin Inman Society, which opposes illegal immigration, an “anti-immigrant hate group.”
Big Tech companies like Amazon have used the “hate map” to screen program recipients. Companies like Eventbrite, PayPal, and Hyatt Hotels have relied on the SPLC’s “hate” accusations. Donor networks worth billions have pledged to keep charitable funds out of the hands of SPLC-accused “hate groups.”
Then-SPLC President Margaret Huang bragged in a 2021 donor meeting that “many agencies in the new Biden administration” reached out to “solicit our expertise” to “help shape the policies that the new administration is adopting to counter the domestic terrorism threat.” That wasn’t hyperbole. The Justice Department received a briefing from the SPLC shortly after it added Moms for Liberty to the “hate map” in June 2023. The FBI cited the SPLC in its notorious memo on “radical-traditional Catholics.”
Law enforcement agencies do not take briefings on mere matters of opinion. Companies do not blacklist charities based on matters of opinion.
Perhaps even more disqualifying, the SPLC has troubling ties to Antifa.
Kash Patel has previously criticized the SPLC, but he should give it the full ADL treatment.
Starting the Day With a Scripture-Inspired Roast Helps Center Your Thoughts on Eternal Truths Amid Temporal Pressures
The world can seem chaotic, especially right after we wake up. Many believers start their mornings reaching for something familiar — a hot cup of coffee — yet end up settling for mediocre brews that do little more than deliver a caffeine jolt. The daily grind of life, with its endless distractions, news cycles, and responsibilities, can leave even the most faithful feeling spiritually parched alongside their physical fatigue. What if your morning ritual could do more than wake you up? What if it could ground you in truth, nourish your body with exceptional quality, and quietly advance a kingdom purpose at the same time?
That’s the promise — and the reality — behind Promised Grounds Coffee. This Christian-founded company doesn’t just roast beans; it approaches every step as an act of worship and discipleship. By selecting only the top 10% of specialty-grade beans, ethically sourced from dedicated farmers in Central and South America, and small-batch roasting them with reverence in Austin, Texas, Promised Grounds delivers what many describe as the best coffee available — never burnt, never bland, but rich with origin stories and layered flavors that honor God’s creation.
From the vibrant Psalm 27 Roast (a light, bright medium option) to the bold yet peaceful 2 Timothy 1:7 Decaf, each bag carries a Scripture verse that turns your daily pour into a gentle reminder of faith. And through their Ounce Per Ounce Promise, every ounce of coffee you enjoy provides an equal ounce of clean water to families in need via partnership with Filter of Hope — literally brewing hope for body and soul, one cup at a time.
The challenge for today’s Christians runs deeper than finding a decent cup. In an age of convenience-driven consumerism, it’s easy to support companies that dilute values or remain silent on matters of faith. Many believers want their everyday choices — from what they drink to how they spend — to reflect discipleship rather than just convenience. Promised Grounds solves this by weaving Christian excellence into the entire process: beans nurtured with prayerful stewardship by farming families, roasted as an offering rather than a commodity, and packaged with Bible verses to encourage a mindset of gratitude and purpose from the first sip. Reviewers consistently praise the smooth, rich profiles — whether enjoyed black in a drip maker, iced on a warm day, or shared in fellowship — noting how the quality stands toe-to-toe with premium secular brands while delivering something far more meaningful.
This integration of faith and flavor addresses a real need in Christian households and ministries. Busy parents, church leaders, and remote workers alike report that starting the day with a Scripture-inspired roast helps center their thoughts on eternal truths amid temporal pressures. The coffee’s exceptional character — bright citrus notes in lighter roasts or deep chocolate undertones in bolder ones — comes from meticulous selection and careful roasting that respects the bean’s natural gifts rather than masking them. It’s the kind of coffee that elevates a simple quiet time, fuels productive workdays, or sparks meaningful conversations when shared at Bible studies or outreach events. And because it’s ethically sourced with integrity, every purchase supports sustainable livelihoods for farmers who treat their crops like family harvests.
For those leading churches or small groups, the impact multiplies. Promised Grounds offers bundles and options perfect for hospitality ministries, turning ordinary coffee service into an opportunity to point people toward the living water of Christ. Imagine greeting visitors with a warm cup whose very bag carries God’s Word — a subtle yet powerful witness that aligns with the Great Commission. The company’s Texas roots and commitment to “brewing hope” resonate especially with believers who value American enterprise paired with global compassion.
Of course, quality alone isn’t enough if the experience feels out of reach. Promised Grounds keeps it accessible with practical perks like free shipping on orders over $40, sample sets for discovering favorites, and thoughtful add-ons such as faith-themed mugs. Whether you prefer whole beans for fresh grinding, grounds for convenience, or even bulk options for larger households and ministries, the result is consistently superior coffee that makes discipleship feel integrated rather than added on.
As you consider how to align even the smallest habits with your walk with God, Promised Grounds Coffee stands out as a refreshing solution. It tackles the dual problems of subpar daily sustenance and disconnected consumption by offering a product that genuinely excels in taste while advancing a mission of clean water, farmer dignity, and scriptural encouragement. Believers who make the switch often describe it as more than a beverage upgrade — it becomes part of their rhythm of gratitude, a daily invitation to remember that every good gift comes from above.
If you’re ready to transform your mornings (and perhaps your church gatherings) with coffee that honors both exceptional craftsmanship and Christian values, I encourage you to explore what Promised Grounds has to offer. One sip at a time, you’ll be nourishing your body, refreshing your spirit, and participating in something far greater — all while enjoying what truly is among the best coffee available.