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Dolly Parton and the ‘Pretty Darn Good’ Southern Church

For many Americans, Ms. Parton represented an idealized style of faith: one centered in small rural congregations that prize community over ideology.

© Will Crooks for The New York Times

The Robert F Thomas Chapel at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge Tennessee on Wednesday.
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How Trump’s Policy Agenda Runs Through One Federal Court, in Texas

For years, conservative litigants flocked to Judge Reed O’Connor’s district. Now, North Texas has become a favorite destination of the Justice Department.

© U.S. Courts, via Reuters

Judge Reed O’Connor in 2018. He has built a reputation as a conservative stalwart and became the chief judge of the Northern District of Texas last August.
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