BETHESDA, Md. — Let’s make this quick. I need sleep.

Seriously, I wrote this week’s post after an exhilarating — but exhausting — first day of the Religion News Association’s annual meeting.

Journalists who cover religion news — including ReligionUnplugged.com’s own Meagan Clark and Hamil Harris — convened Thursday at a hotel northwest of Washington, D.C.

It’s RNA’s first in-person conference in 2½ years.

Session topics range from expanding global religion coverage to when to label a religious group a cult. Follow the Twitter hashtag #RNA2022 to keep up with all the Godbeat discussions.

But be warned: The news doesn’t stop for any conference.

As attendees picked up their name tags Thursday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court “ruled 8-1 in favor of a death row inmate seeking to hear vocal prayers and feel his pastor’s touch as he dies,” as the Deseret News’ Kelsey Dallas reports.

“OF COURSE the Supreme Court is making me handle breaking news during my conference trip,” Dallas tweeted.

For more background on the case, see past coverage here and here.

Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads

1. Jackson invokes her Christian faith, stays mum on specifics: “Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has put her religious faith front, center — and vague.” I love that lede by The Associated Press’ Peter Smith.

Other excellent coverage of the Supreme Court nominee’s faith:

• Ketanji Brown Jackson publicly expresses thanks to God but keeps faith history private (by Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)

• Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson says her faith sustains her but won't impede judgments (by Hamil R. Harris, ReligionUnplugged.com)

• At confirmation hearing, Lindsey Graham grills Ketanji Brown Jackson on faith (by Jack Jenkins, RNS)

• Why faith is in the spotlight during Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearings (by Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)

• Why haven’t there been any evangelicals on the Supreme Court? (by Megan Fowler, Christianity Today)

CONTINUE READING: “#RNA2022 — Nation's Religion Writers Convene — In Person — For Annual Conference” by Bobby Ross, Jr., at Religion Unplugged.