Brian Kaylor
@briankaylor.bsky.social
Baptist minister with PhD in political communication. New book: 'The Bible According to Christian Nationalists.' President & Editor-in-Chief - @WordAndWay.bsky.social [email protected]
http://publicwitness.wordandway.org
http://publicwitness.wordandway.org
ICE has disrupted worship & violated sanctity of church property many times over past year. But anti-ICE protesters interrupt 1 service & administration calls it an attack on religious liberty.
Via @abc7.bsky.social: DHS agents chased a man onto the grounds of a United Methodist church in North Hills in LA.
He was detained during a time local groups (in a separate press release) say was set aside for a "prayer service, childcare and the food distribution." abc7.com/post/taco-ve...
He was detained during a time local groups (in a separate press release) say was set aside for a "prayer service, childcare and the food distribution." abc7.com/post/taco-ve...
Taco vendor chased, detained by federal agents at North Hills church
New video circulating online shows a taco vendor running from masked agents during an immigration raid at a North Hills church.
abc7.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:30 PM
ICE has disrupted worship & violated sanctity of church property many times over past year. But anti-ICE protesters interrupt 1 service & administration calls it an attack on religious liberty.
Look, I agree ICE shouldn't be kidnapping & locking up children, but I don't want judges ruling against it because of the Bible. The answer to rightwing Christian Nationalism is not progressive Christian Nationalism.
Judge Biery signed the order with a photo of Liam and two bible verses: The first is "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." The second is simply "Jesus wept."
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
January 31, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Look, I agree ICE shouldn't be kidnapping & locking up children, but I don't want judges ruling against it because of the Bible. The answer to rightwing Christian Nationalism is not progressive Christian Nationalism.
As has been obvious for some time, it's not just his clothes that echo the Nazis. This bigot had gall last month to post video co-opting Isaiah 6:8 (call of the prophet) to suggest militarized border patrol is doing God's work. Guess Bovino forgot Isaiah was Jewish.
Breaking News: The Border Patrol leader Greg Bovino mocked the Jewish faith of the U.S. attorney in Minnesota during a call with lawyers, according to several people with knowledge of the conversation.
Bovino Is Said to Have Mocked Prosecutor’s Jewish Faith on Call With Lawyers
Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol field leader, made disparaging remarks in reference to the U.S. attorney in Minnesota, an Orthodox Jew, people with knowledge of the phone call said.
nyti.ms
January 31, 2026 at 5:30 PM
As has been obvious for some time, it's not just his clothes that echo the Nazis. This bigot had gall last month to post video co-opting Isaiah 6:8 (call of the prophet) to suggest militarized border patrol is doing God's work. Guess Bovino forgot Isaiah was Jewish.
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
Check out @annapiela.bsky.social's and my episode on Dangerous Dogma about our new book! www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpW6...
January 30, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Check out @annapiela.bsky.social's and my episode on Dangerous Dogma about our new book! www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpW6...
Worst holiday movie plot ever
January 30, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Worst holiday movie plot ever
Like which Bible passage he'll pray during the attack. Last week he shared his Venezuela operation passage: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/hegseth-sh...
Hegseth Shares War Psalm He Prayed During Venezuela Attack
During the first Christian worship service at the Pentagon since the U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth framed t...
publicwitness.wordandway.org
January 30, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Like which Bible passage he'll pray during the attack. Last week he shared his Venezuela operation passage: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/hegseth-sh...
If Lemon or Fort were part of planning or leading protest, that would be different. Given Trump's poor track record on press freedoms, I suspect this is more about targeting someone (Lemon) who he's long disliked. That said, I strongly disagree with many of Lemon's comments on air during & since.
January 30, 2026 at 3:50 PM
If Lemon or Fort were part of planning or leading protest, that would be different. Given Trump's poor track record on press freedoms, I suspect this is more about targeting someone (Lemon) who he's long disliked. That said, I strongly disagree with many of Lemon's comments on air during & since.
There's definitely a line that can be crossed that moves one from journalism. Key word in your Shirley hypothetical is "lead." I've not seen evidence Lemon or Fort led the group. If they merely followed protesters in to record what happened, that's not same as organizing or leading protest.
January 30, 2026 at 3:48 PM
There's definitely a line that can be crossed that moves one from journalism. Key word in your Shirley hypothetical is "lead." I've not seen evidence Lemon or Fort led the group. If they merely followed protesters in to record what happened, that's not same as organizing or leading protest.
As DOJ arrests journalists for covering protest at church, it's important to note that the ICE pastor at the church was blasted this week by a conservative judge for violating dozens of court orders. Who's the real lawbreaker?
wordandway.org/2026/01/28/g...
wordandway.org/2026/01/28/g...
GOP Judge Blasts ICE Pastor for ‘Extraordinary’ Court Order Violations - Word&Way
On Monday, the top federal judge in Minnesota issued a blistering critique of three Trump administration officials for repeatedly violating court orders. One of the three is David Easterwood, the acti...
wordandway.org
January 30, 2026 at 3:03 PM
As DOJ arrests journalists for covering protest at church, it's important to note that the ICE pastor at the church was blasted this week by a conservative judge for violating dozens of court orders. Who's the real lawbreaker?
wordandway.org/2026/01/28/g...
wordandway.org/2026/01/28/g...
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
"News outlets across the political spectrum need to loudly defend [independent journalists Don] Lemon’s and [Georgia] Fort’s rights. Journalists are not making themselves the story, Trump is.”
Full Freedom of the Press Foundation statement below.
Full Freedom of the Press Foundation statement below.
January 30, 2026 at 2:58 PM
"News outlets across the political spectrum need to loudly defend [independent journalists Don] Lemon’s and [Georgia] Fort’s rights. Journalists are not making themselves the story, Trump is.”
Full Freedom of the Press Foundation statement below.
Full Freedom of the Press Foundation statement below.
I agree the link is important. And I think the fact that nation's largest Protestant denomination is getting closer to Wilson/Hegseth world is also alarming. I grew up Southern Baptist (am still Baptist, but different group now) & it's wild to see Wilson move from fringe to center.
January 30, 2026 at 2:45 PM
I agree the link is important. And I think the fact that nation's largest Protestant denomination is getting closer to Wilson/Hegseth world is also alarming. I grew up Southern Baptist (am still Baptist, but different group now) & it's wild to see Wilson move from fringe to center.
Alarming news as DOJ is arresting journalists for covering church protest:
"As a member of the press, I filmed the church protest a few weeks ago and now I'm being arrested for that," Indipendent journalist Georgia Fort said. "It's hard to understand how we have a Constitution, Constitutional rights, when we can just be arrested for being a member of the press."
Journalists Don Lemon, Georgia Fort arrested in connection with church protest against ICE
Lemon's attorney said he was taken into custody by federal officers Thursday night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy Awards.
www.kare11.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Alarming news as DOJ is arresting journalists for covering church protest:
The church has ties to Wilson & his people but is not formally part of CREC. It's in Southern Baptist Convention. Of course, growing ties between SBC & Wilson is important to highlight. Most preachers at Hegseth's worship services have been SBC not CREC (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/government...)
Government Worship Watch
During the second Trump administration, leaders of federal agencies have started hosting official worship services in government buildings during work hours led by Cabinet members.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
January 30, 2026 at 2:20 PM
The church has ties to Wilson & his people but is not formally part of CREC. It's in Southern Baptist Convention. Of course, growing ties between SBC & Wilson is important to highlight. Most preachers at Hegseth's worship services have been SBC not CREC (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/government...)
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
It appears several clergy were just arrested as they staged an anti-ICE protest in the Russell Rotunda in the U.S. Senate office building.
A number of faith leaders, who were in town urging Senators to vote against additional ICE funding, were led away by police: www.facebook.com/FIAnational/...
A number of faith leaders, who were in town urging Senators to vote against additional ICE funding, were led away by police: www.facebook.com/FIAnational/...
January 29, 2026 at 8:31 PM
It appears several clergy were just arrested as they staged an anti-ICE protest in the Russell Rotunda in the U.S. Senate office building.
A number of faith leaders, who were in town urging Senators to vote against additional ICE funding, were led away by police: www.facebook.com/FIAnational/...
A number of faith leaders, who were in town urging Senators to vote against additional ICE funding, were led away by police: www.facebook.com/FIAnational/...
As Kristi Noem oversees militarized forces terrorizing cities & lies to justify executions of Americans, leaders of her Foursquare Church remain silent. I wrote about how they are failing this moral test:
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-silenc...
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-silenc...
The Silence of Kristi Noem’s Church
What the Foursquare Church could learn from United Methodists, Southern Baptists, and Catholics.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
January 29, 2026 at 9:10 PM
As Kristi Noem oversees militarized forces terrorizing cities & lies to justify executions of Americans, leaders of her Foursquare Church remain silent. I wrote about how they are failing this moral test:
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-silenc...
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-silenc...
Great conversation between @sarahposner.bsky.social & @julieingersoll.bsky.social on Hegseth & religion. Would be helpful if all political reporters listened & took notes. Appreciate shout-out to my work documenting Hegseth's worship services at Pentagon: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/hegseth-sh...
It's Thursday, so the brand new episode of Reign of Error is here, and it's not to be missed.
I talk to @julieingersoll.bsky.social, the foremost expert on the radical Christian theology of Pete Hegseth. Find it here or in your favorite podcast app:
redcircle.com/shows/fbed71...
I talk to @julieingersoll.bsky.social, the foremost expert on the radical Christian theology of Pete Hegseth. Find it here or in your favorite podcast app:
redcircle.com/shows/fbed71...
Reign of Error with Sarah Posner
Listen to Reign of Error with Sarah Posner on RedCircle
redcircle.com
January 29, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Great conversation between @sarahposner.bsky.social & @julieingersoll.bsky.social on Hegseth & religion. Would be helpful if all political reporters listened & took notes. Appreciate shout-out to my work documenting Hegseth's worship services at Pentagon: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/hegseth-sh...
Also, it's frustrating to see mainstream media failing to connect the dots here. Lots of reports note legal ruling criticizing David Easterwood for not following court order but no others point out he's the pastor targeted last week in protest last week: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/protesters...
Protesters Disrupt Southern Baptist Church of Pastor Who Leads ICE Office in Minnesota
On Sunday, an unplanned liturgy of “ICE out!” and “Justice for Renee Good!” erupted in the sanctuary of a Southern Baptist church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
January 28, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Also, it's frustrating to see mainstream media failing to connect the dots here. Lots of reports note legal ruling criticizing David Easterwood for not following court order but no others point out he's the pastor targeted last week in protest last week: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/protesters...
Lots of evangelicals are defending ICE by claiming we should respect rule of law. So I assume they will now criticize the ICE pastor for ... checks notes ... not respecting the rule of law. Right?
"GOP Judge Blasts ICE Pastor for 'Extraordinary' Court Order Violations"
wordandway.org/2026/01/28/g...
"GOP Judge Blasts ICE Pastor for 'Extraordinary' Court Order Violations"
wordandway.org/2026/01/28/g...
GOP Judge Blasts ICE Pastor for ‘Extraordinary’ Court Order Violations - Word&Way
On Monday, the top federal judge in Minnesota issued a blistering critique of three Trump administration officials for repeatedly violating court orders. One of the three is David Easterwood, the acti...
wordandway.org
January 28, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Lots of evangelicals are defending ICE by claiming we should respect rule of law. So I assume they will now criticize the ICE pastor for ... checks notes ... not respecting the rule of law. Right?
"GOP Judge Blasts ICE Pastor for 'Extraordinary' Court Order Violations"
wordandway.org/2026/01/28/g...
"GOP Judge Blasts ICE Pastor for 'Extraordinary' Court Order Violations"
wordandway.org/2026/01/28/g...
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
Many Christian leaders in the United States, Denmark, Greenland, and elsewhere are speaking out against the imperial plotting of the man who commands the world’s largest military.
US, Global Christians Resist Trump’s Greenland Threats
“What we need to know in Greenland is that we are not alone. We are used to having to wait until the snowstorm is over for the sun to come back.”
publicwitness.wordandway.org
January 27, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Many Christian leaders in the United States, Denmark, Greenland, and elsewhere are speaking out against the imperial plotting of the man who commands the world’s largest military.
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
"Whether it’s enslaver missionaries criticizing Baptist minister Martin Luther King Jr. or defending an ICE pastor, Southern Baptists have yet to shake their original sin."
~ @briankaylor.bsky.social
~ @briankaylor.bsky.social
The Line From Enslaver Missionaries to an ICE Pastor - Word&Way
In 1845, a group of pro-slavery Baptists created the Southern Baptist Convention to defend enslavers serving as missionaries. One hundred and eighty years later, SBC leaders defend a pastor serving as...
wordandway.org
January 28, 2026 at 3:19 AM
"Whether it’s enslaver missionaries criticizing Baptist minister Martin Luther King Jr. or defending an ICE pastor, Southern Baptists have yet to shake their original sin."
~ @briankaylor.bsky.social
~ @briankaylor.bsky.social
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
Today’s issue of A Public Witness highlights important voices of opposition to imperial plotting from a variety of religious groups, ranging from Lutherans to Baptists, Anglicans, Catholics, and others.
US, Global Christians Resist Trump’s Greenland Threats
“What we need to know in Greenland is that we are not alone. We are used to having to wait until the snowstorm is over for the sun to come back.”
publicwitness.wordandway.org
January 27, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Today’s issue of A Public Witness highlights important voices of opposition to imperial plotting from a variety of religious groups, ranging from Lutherans to Baptists, Anglicans, Catholics, and others.
Wait, did DHS create list of friendly churches for agents to attend? Would love to see the list! (Of course, it's possible someone just created a list of churches & may have accidentally recommended anti-ICE ones too.)
DHS is leaking like crazy right now.
If you’re DHS, join the movement by texting me at 202-510-1268 (Signal recommended)
If you’re DHS, join the movement by texting me at 202-510-1268 (Signal recommended)
January 27, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Wait, did DHS create list of friendly churches for agents to attend? Would love to see the list! (Of course, it's possible someone just created a list of churches & may have accidentally recommended anti-ICE ones too.)
Criticizing protesters while defending ICE as it breaks law & ignores court rulings shows evangelicals don't care about "rule of law." This is same trick enslavers pulled, invoking "law & order" only when it helped uphold white supremacy. Some things haven't changed: wordandway.org/2026/01/23/t...
The Line From Enslaver Missionaries to an ICE Pastor - Word&Way
In 1845, a group of pro-slavery Baptists created the Southern Baptist Convention to defend enslavers serving as missionaries. One hundred and eighty years later, SBC leaders defend a pastor serving as...
wordandway.org
January 27, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Criticizing protesters while defending ICE as it breaks law & ignores court rulings shows evangelicals don't care about "rule of law." This is same trick enslavers pulled, invoking "law & order" only when it helped uphold white supremacy. Some things haven't changed: wordandway.org/2026/01/23/t...
So while evangelicals invoke "law & order" while falsely blaming Pretti & Good for their own murders & criticize protesters at Cities Church for breaking law, they also defend the ICE pastor accused by GOP judge of violating court orders & failing to comply: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:59 PM
So while evangelicals invoke "law & order" while falsely blaming Pretti & Good for their own murders & criticize protesters at Cities Church for breaking law, they also defend the ICE pastor accused by GOP judge of violating court orders & failing to comply: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...