Secrets of the Killing State: What You’re Not Supposed to Know About Lethal Injection
Join Our Next Free Beyond the Echo Chamber Lecture Event with Legal Scholar Corinna Lain
Our Beyond the Echo Chamber series kicked off last month with over 6,000 views on our conversation with Dr. Matthew Taylor about Christian nationalism and democracy — and the thoughtful audience questions during the Q&A made it clear: people are hungry for deeper, more honest dialogue about the forces shaping our country (click here to watch the recording).
We’re keeping that momentum going with our next event, featuring death penalty expert and legal scholar Corinna Lain, whose latest book, Secrets of the Killing State, pulls back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood practices in America’s criminal justice system: lethal injection.
Marketed as the most humane way to carry out the death penalty, lethal injection has long provided a sense of moral comfort to those who support capital punishment. But as Lain’s research shows, that comfort rests on a fragile lie.
Consider:
The execution of Clayton Lockett, where a botched injection led to visible agony for nearly 45 minutes before he died of a heart attack.
The state’s reliance on black market drugs and untested chemical cocktails, shrouded in secrecy and shielded from public scrutiny.
The emotional and psychological damage inflicted on prison staff, many of whom suffer lasting trauma from their participation in executions.
This is not just about flawed policy — it’s about the human cost of a system that operates behind closed doors.
If you’d like a preview of what to expect, we recently interviewed Corinna on the Faithful Politics Podcast, where she shared some of the stories and research that fuel her book. Check out that episode if you want to get a taste of the important conversation we’ll be continuing live.
🗓️ Date: May 2, 2025
🕖 Time: 1:00 pm (EST)
🎟️ Free Admission | Open to the Public
🗓️ Don’t miss this opportunity to engage directly, ask your questions, and challenge your assumptions. Register today and be part of the next Beyond the Echo Chamber.
And if you happen to be in the Richmond area, there’s one more way to join in: after you’ve signed up for the lecture, you can also register to attend Corinna’s official book launch event in person. Josh and I will be there — so make sure to come say hi!