The argument that CBS is now “MAGA-coded” took another hit on Friday as Evening News highlighted a lawsuit from some Texas moms battling to overturn Texas’s law that requires the Ten Commandments be displayed in public schools. Not only that, correspondent Jason Allen did not disclose that one of the women unsuccessfully ran for city council earlier in the year.
Guest host Matt Gutman kicked things off by declaring, “As the public school year begins next week in Texas, one of the nation's most closely watched church-state battles is at a turning point. For now, Texas, like three other states, has a court-protected right to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms, but as CBS News correspondent Jason Allen tells us, the fight is far from over.”
Allen began his report by claiming that “The lessons Audrey Nath and Emily Roth are teaching their young children don't include ten religious laws taught in the Bible.”
Allegedly "MAGA-coded" CBS finds a lesbian couple to complain about Texas displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools while not mentioning one of them is a former left-wing city council candidate. Emily Roth (the one who didn't run for city council) claimed her kids don't… pic.twitter.com/gDMhKonxQV
— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) August 8, 2026
Roth then explained that her kids don’t need to be taught that murder is bad, “My kids are young, and they don't have the concept of murder and—” Nath interrupted to add "adultery," and Roth agreed, “Adultery and servitude.”
On the contrary, moral formation begins at a young age. Children do need to be taught not to steal, envy other people’s things, bear false witness about each other, and, yes, murder and commit adultery.
As for CBS, Allen declined to point out that Nath is a recent left-wing Houston City Council candidate. Officially, candidates don’t run as Republicans or Democrats, but Nath touted her affiliation with groups like the Houston Progressive Caucus and was endorsed by Democratic Party affiliates, so it is clear where she stands.
Still, he continued and played with the idea that conservatives are being hypocritical, “Texas passed Senate Bill 10 last year, which requires public schools to display the Ten Commandments in all classrooms. A federal lawsuit challenging the bill failed, so now Nath and Roth, along with a third Houston area mom, are suing under state laws, alleging it violates the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the recently passed Parental Rights Amendment, championed by conservatives.”
Comparing the Ten Commandments to gender ideology, for example, is silly, but a soundbite of Roth featured her lamenting, “This is presenting the beliefs of one religion as rules on the wall, and I think that implies that any kids who believe something different aren't following the ‘right thing’ at school.”
Meanwhile, Nath added, “There can be a place for religion in school if it is being taught in a historical context with other religions.”
As for the other side, Allen cited, “Supporters of the law, including Texas Attorney General and Senate candidate Ken Paxton, argue Biblical texts are an important part of the country's heritage and history and should be taught.”
An unidentified man then explained, “Parental rights are fundamental, but they are not a license for one family to rewrite that for every child in Texas and what they learn in public schools.”
While Roth and Nath got the star treatment, you would have to go to Allen’s online article to find out the man is Texas Values director of policy, Jonathan Covey.
Allen then got back to Roth and Nath, “Do you see this as opening the door to more religious instruction in schools? Are you afraid of that?”
Roth claimed that she did, “Oh, I feel like the door is wide open. I feel like Texas is being a test case right now, and I don't want my kids to be the guinea pigs.”
Allen then wrapped up by reporting that "a judge in Houston denied a temporary restraining order today in that new case. So, when schools open next week, most classrooms will have the Ten Commandments on the wall, but some still won't. Here in Arlington they are waiting for a Supreme Court to weigh in. An attorney who was representing 15 families challenging the law told us that they plan to appeal to the Supreme Court within weeks.”
It should be noted that the Texas law merely requires the display of the Ten Commandments. It does not require instruction.
Here is a transcript for the August 7 show:
CBS Evening News
8/7/2026
6:46 PM ET
MATT GUTMAN: As the public school year begins next week in Texas, one of the nation's most closely watched church-state battles is at a turning point. For now, Texas, like three other states, has a court-protected right to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms, but as CBS News correspondent Jason Allen tells us, the fight is far from over.
AUDREY NATH: Everybody take out five cards.
JASON ALLEN: The lessons Audrey Nath and Emily Roth are teaching their young children don't include ten religious laws taught in the Bible.
EMILY ROTH: My kids are young, and they don't have the concept of murder and—
NATH: Adultery.
ROTH: Adultery and servitude.
ALLEN: Texas passed Senate Bill 10 last year, which requires public schools to display the Ten Commandments in all classrooms. A federal lawsuit challenging the bill failed, so now Nath and Roth, along with a third Houston area mom, are suing under state laws, alleging it violates the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the recently passed Parental Rights Amendment, championed by conservatives.
ROTH: This is presenting the beliefs of one religion as rules on the wall, and I think that implies that any kids who believe something different aren't following the “right thing” at school.
NATH: There can be a place for religion in school if it is being taught in a historical context with other religions.
ALLEN: Supporters of the law, including Texas Attorney General and Senate candidate Ken Paxton, argue Biblical texts are an important part of the country's heritage and history and should be taught.
JONATHAN COVEY: Parental rights are fundamental, but they are not a license for one family to rewrite that for every child in Texas and what they learn in public schools.
ALLEN: Three other states currently require the Ten Commandments to be displayed. More than a dozen others have proposed similar legislation.
Do you see this as opening the door to more religious instruction in schools? Are you afraid of that?
ROTH: Oh, I feel like the door is wide open. I feel like Texas is being a test case right now, and I don't want my kids to be the guinea pigs.
ALLEN: A judge in Houston denied a temporary restraining order today in that new case. So, when schools open next week, most classrooms will have the Ten Commandments on the wall, but some still won't. Here in Arlington they are waiting for a Supreme Court to weigh in. An attorney who was representing 15 families challenging the law told us that they plan to appeal to the Supreme Court within weeks. Matt?
