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
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
BREAKING: Americans United files THIRD lawsuit over Trump’s Anti-Christian Bias Task Force www.au.org/the-latest/p...
AU files third lawsuit over Trump’s Anti-Christian Bias Task Force executive order - Americans United
As part of an investigation into President Trump's Anti-Christian Bias Task Force, AU filed a FOIA lawsuit against the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.
www.au.org
February 4, 2026 at 4:09 PM
BREAKING: Americans United files THIRD lawsuit over Trump’s Anti-Christian Bias Task Force www.au.org/the-latest/p...
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
I taped this week's Reign of Error episode with @briankaylor.bsky.social yesterday before Johnson's statements, but we discuss this very thing: why evangelicals and Southern Baptists like Johnson promote this view of the Bible.
You're going to want to listen to this one. Drops tomorrow a.m.
You're going to want to listen to this one. Drops tomorrow a.m.
Speaking on behalf of a religion that actively sought to spread itself to every country in the world whether invited or not, Speaker Johnson would like to share with you the Biblical case for strong borders.
February 4, 2026 at 1:51 PM
I taped this week's Reign of Error episode with @briankaylor.bsky.social yesterday before Johnson's statements, but we discuss this very thing: why evangelicals and Southern Baptists like Johnson promote this view of the Bible.
You're going to want to listen to this one. Drops tomorrow a.m.
You're going to want to listen to this one. Drops tomorrow a.m.
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
The co-opting of sacred texts by the Trump administration is nothing new.
But it also shows they look at the Bible and think they’re the holy ones — all while executing people, kidnapping kids, shooting clergy with pepper balls, tear-gassing peaceful protesters, offering racist taunts, and lying.
But it also shows they look at the Bible and think they’re the holy ones — all while executing people, kidnapping kids, shooting clergy with pepper balls, tear-gassing peaceful protesters, offering racist taunts, and lying.
Blessed Are the Pepper-Sprayers?
“I cherish peace with all my heart. I don’t care how many men, women, and children I need to kill to get it.”
publicwitness.wordandway.org
February 3, 2026 at 10:16 PM
The co-opting of sacred texts by the Trump administration is nothing new.
But it also shows they look at the Bible and think they’re the holy ones — all while executing people, kidnapping kids, shooting clergy with pepper balls, tear-gassing peaceful protesters, offering racist taunts, and lying.
But it also shows they look at the Bible and think they’re the holy ones — all while executing people, kidnapping kids, shooting clergy with pepper balls, tear-gassing peaceful protesters, offering racist taunts, and lying.
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
Today’s issue of A Public Witness explores biblical “peacemaker” rhetoric from the Trump administration and how it wildly misrepresents what Jesus actually taught.
Blessed Are the Pepper-Sprayers?
“I cherish peace with all my heart. I don’t care how many men, women, and children I need to kill to get it.”
publicwitness.wordandway.org
February 3, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Today’s issue of A Public Witness explores biblical “peacemaker” rhetoric from the Trump administration and how it wildly misrepresents what Jesus actually taught.
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...
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.
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:
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...
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.)
Evangelicals defending ICE amid execution of Alex Pretti keep emphasizing importance of "rule of law." But these chaplains of the empire don't apply that to ICE. Multiple judges have found ICE to be violating laws & court orders, including in Minnesota: www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Judge threatens to hold acting ICE director in contempt for flouting court orders
The judge ordered Lyons to either appear in court and explain why ICE is violating a Jan. 14 court order to give a detainee a bond hearing or release the detainee.
www.nbcnews.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Evangelicals defending ICE amid execution of Alex Pretti keep emphasizing importance of "rule of law." But these chaplains of the empire don't apply that to ICE. Multiple judges have found ICE to be violating laws & court orders, including in Minnesota: www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
Don’t know if you saw this from Steve Sack, former political cartoonist at the star trib.
January 27, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Don’t know if you saw this from Steve Sack, former political cartoonist at the star trib.
Last month, this guy posted a video co-opting Isaiah 6:8 ("here I am, send me") while reigning hell on people. Great to see him getting pushed out. Hopefully he also faces justice someday.
BREAKING Greg Bovino has been removed as Border Patrol "commander at large" and will return to El Centro Calif, where he is expected to retire soon. A stunning turnaround after Pretti killing. Bovino's traveling blue city crackdown is over www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Gregory Bovino Gets Demoted
The Border Patrol chief was the public face of a traveling immigration crackdown on cities governed by Democrats.
www.theatlantic.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Last month, this guy posted a video co-opting Isaiah 6:8 ("here I am, send me") while reigning hell on people. Great to see him getting pushed out. Hopefully he also faces justice someday.
"That’s really all we want to do: be a source of goodness for our neighbors. We think God can make some good use of that in the long work of getting ourselves free of the powers & principalities that seek to enclose & encircle." -Rev. Christian Collins Winn
wordandway.org/2026/01/26/a...
wordandway.org/2026/01/26/a...
An American Baptist Church Ministers in Shadow of Pretti Killing - Word&Way
An American Baptist church is just one block from where nurse Alex Pretti was executed Saturday by federal agents in the street. The church held a joint worship service the next morning elsewhere, but...
wordandway.org
January 26, 2026 at 9:30 PM
"That’s really all we want to do: be a source of goodness for our neighbors. We think God can make some good use of that in the long work of getting ourselves free of the powers & principalities that seek to enclose & encircle." -Rev. Christian Collins Winn
wordandway.org/2026/01/26/a...
wordandway.org/2026/01/26/a...
If you've ever wondered about the difference between Southern Baptists & American Baptists (formerly known as Northern Baptists), the Twin Cities are showing it.
An SBC church has a pastor who's an ICE leader.
An ABC church a block from Pretti's execution is ministering to those terrorized by ICE:
An SBC church has a pastor who's an ICE leader.
An ABC church a block from Pretti's execution is ministering to those terrorized by ICE:
An American Baptist church is 1 block from where Alex Pretti was executed. They're passing out coffee & opened building to people visiting memorial. They had to hold their Sunday service elsewhere & it was powerful joint service with another American Baptist church: wordandway.org/2026/01/26/a...
An American Baptist Church Ministers in Shadow of Pretti Killing - Word&Way
An American Baptist church is just one block from where nurse Alex Pretti was executed Saturday by federal agents in the street. The church held a joint worship service the next morning elsewhere, but...
wordandway.org
January 26, 2026 at 8:49 PM
If you've ever wondered about the difference between Southern Baptists & American Baptists (formerly known as Northern Baptists), the Twin Cities are showing it.
An SBC church has a pastor who's an ICE leader.
An ABC church a block from Pretti's execution is ministering to those terrorized by ICE:
An SBC church has a pastor who's an ICE leader.
An ABC church a block from Pretti's execution is ministering to those terrorized by ICE: