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 bkaylor@wordandway.org
http://publicwitness.wordandway.org
http://publicwitness.wordandway.org
Trump pardoned people who tried to overturn his 2020 election loss in state legislatures. One was Jenna Ellis, now a Christian radio host. She attacked @wordandway.bsky.social as a "bad actor" for reporting on her (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/radio-liar). I don't put much stock in her assessment!
Radio Liar
The progression in the criminal case against former Donald Trump attorney and Christian radio show host Jenna Ellis looks like that “how it started, how it’s going” meme.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
November 10, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Trump pardoned people who tried to overturn his 2020 election loss in state legislatures. One was Jenna Ellis, now a Christian radio host. She attacked @wordandway.bsky.social as a "bad actor" for reporting on her (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/radio-liar). I don't put much stock in her assessment!
Every Sunday, the GOP posts a Bible verse on X. Today's is quite the self-own since the GOP is in power & people are hiding. Social media person didn't think this one through.
November 9, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Every Sunday, the GOP posts a Bible verse on X. Today's is quite the self-own since the GOP is in power & people are hiding. Social media person didn't think this one through.
We have a problem as people aren't able to buy a house as young as previous generations did. But solution is *not* 50-year mortgage, which will increase total $ spent on home & basically create lifetime of debt laboring. That will exacerbate income inequality, which created this problem in 1st place
November 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM
We have a problem as people aren't able to buy a house as young as previous generations did. But solution is *not* 50-year mortgage, which will increase total $ spent on home & basically create lifetime of debt laboring. That will exacerbate income inequality, which created this problem in 1st place
Restoring Confederate statues while removing memorial to Black soldiers proves Trump administration isn't driven by honoring history but White Supremacy
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Restoring Confederate statues while removing memorial to Black soldiers proves Trump administration isn't driven by honoring history but White Supremacy
Texas AG Ken Paxton is suing a public school to force them to post the Ten Commandments. But does he even know the Ten Commandments?
www.youtube.com/shorts/w7JLi...
www.youtube.com/shorts/w7JLi...
Ken Paxton wants schools to post the Ten Commandments. But does he even know the Ten Commandments?
YouTube video by Brian Kaylor
www.youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Texas AG Ken Paxton is suing a public school to force them to post the Ten Commandments. But does he even know the Ten Commandments?
www.youtube.com/shorts/w7JLi...
www.youtube.com/shorts/w7JLi...
New DHS video calling US "the last best hope of man on Earth" is pretty psychedelic (x.com/DHSgov/statu...). And it includes image of An Appeal to Heaven flag that's popular with Christian Nationalists. Fits with other DHS religious appeals (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-bible-...)
November 8, 2025 at 11:39 PM
New DHS video calling US "the last best hope of man on Earth" is pretty psychedelic (x.com/DHSgov/statu...). And it includes image of An Appeal to Heaven flag that's popular with Christian Nationalists. Fits with other DHS religious appeals (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-bible-...)
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
UPDATE: Reached out to the Rev. Hannah Kardon, a United Methodist minister who was there that day and has been active in religious demonstrations at Broadview.
“They are making it clear that they are scared of prayer … it speaks the truth that what they are doing in that building is evil.”
“They are making it clear that they are scared of prayer … it speaks the truth that what they are doing in that building is evil.”
November 8, 2025 at 2:08 PM
UPDATE: Reached out to the Rev. Hannah Kardon, a United Methodist minister who was there that day and has been active in religious demonstrations at Broadview.
“They are making it clear that they are scared of prayer … it speaks the truth that what they are doing in that building is evil.”
“They are making it clear that they are scared of prayer … it speaks the truth that what they are doing in that building is evil.”
#ChristianNationalism like this confuses American & Christian identities. This is also the same argument that was used to put "under God" in Pledge in 1954. So let's also tackle that Christian Nationalistic history: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/70-years-u...
Benny Johnson: If you don't believe in God, then “you're not an American, actually”
November 7, 2025 at 5:52 PM
#ChristianNationalism like this confuses American & Christian identities. This is also the same argument that was used to put "under God" in Pledge in 1954. So let's also tackle that Christian Nationalistic history: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/70-years-u...
Good reflection from @sarahposner.bsky.social:
"Traditional Media Never Took the Christian Right Seriously"
talkingpointsmemo.com/tpm-25/tradi...
"Traditional Media Never Took the Christian Right Seriously"
talkingpointsmemo.com/tpm-25/tradi...
Traditional Media Never Took the Christian Right Seriously
Back in the early 2000s, when we were outraged by the excesses...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Good reflection from @sarahposner.bsky.social:
"Traditional Media Never Took the Christian Right Seriously"
talkingpointsmemo.com/tpm-25/tradi...
"Traditional Media Never Took the Christian Right Seriously"
talkingpointsmemo.com/tpm-25/tradi...
A trillionaire shouldn't exist, especially in a world where children are starving. And the fact that such a man was given control of government programs earlier this year to cut lifesaving funds & doom millions of people shows the moral rot of our capitalist empire.
November 7, 2025 at 1:17 AM
A trillionaire shouldn't exist, especially in a world where children are starving. And the fact that such a man was given control of government programs earlier this year to cut lifesaving funds & doom millions of people shows the moral rot of our capitalist empire.
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
While James Madison thought the American experiment in church-state separation was teaching the world important lessons, he probably didn’t expect a House speaker would show up who claims to not know anything.
Mike Johnson Doesn’t Know ... Church-State Edition
One would think Speaker Mike Johnson has a lot of extra time these days to learn about what’s happening in the world.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
November 7, 2025 at 1:01 AM
While James Madison thought the American experiment in church-state separation was teaching the world important lessons, he probably didn’t expect a House speaker would show up who claims to not know anything.
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
Today’s issue of A Public Witness unpacks the House speaker’s latest attack on church-state separation and a surprising voice singing some opposition to his Christian Nationalist worldview.
Mike Johnson Doesn’t Know ... Church-State Edition
One would think Speaker Mike Johnson has a lot of extra time these days to learn about what’s happening in the world.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
November 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Today’s issue of A Public Witness unpacks the House speaker’s latest attack on church-state separation and a surprising voice singing some opposition to his Christian Nationalist worldview.
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
Rep. Yassamin Ansari has set up a table and this sign outside Speaker Johnson’s office.
November 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Rep. Yassamin Ansari has set up a table and this sign outside Speaker Johnson’s office.
Federal judge rules against ICE/Trump admin for shooting & gassing clergy (& other protesters). But this doesn't cover Illinois State Police who've also done it (as I reported Tuesday: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/baptist-pa...). Trump bound by injunction but Pritzker still free to shoot clergy.
Ellis rules that the Trump administration impermissibly prevented the free exercise of religion, in violation of the First Amendment.
Those engaged in prayer have been shot, without warning, with pepper balls and tear gas, Ellis says.
Those engaged in prayer have been shot, without warning, with pepper balls and tear gas, Ellis says.
November 6, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Federal judge rules against ICE/Trump admin for shooting & gassing clergy (& other protesters). But this doesn't cover Illinois State Police who've also done it (as I reported Tuesday: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/baptist-pa...). Trump bound by injunction but Pritzker still free to shoot clergy.
There are many examples of Trump admin breaking law just to crap on people they don't care about, but didn't want this one to be missed:
"Judge orders White House to restore sign language interpreters at briefings by Trump, Leavitt"
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
"Judge orders White House to restore sign language interpreters at briefings by Trump, Leavitt"
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Judge orders White House to restore sign language interpreters at briefings by Trump, Leavitt
U.S. District Judge Amir Ali said the White House’s decision to end ASL interpretation illegally excluded deaf Americans from crucial updates from the government.
www.politico.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:46 PM
There are many examples of Trump admin breaking law just to crap on people they don't care about, but didn't want this one to be missed:
"Judge orders White House to restore sign language interpreters at briefings by Trump, Leavitt"
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
"Judge orders White House to restore sign language interpreters at briefings by Trump, Leavitt"
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
Saturday’s pepper-balling of Baptist pastor Michael Woolf is not an isolated incident.
Several other clergy have been shot, teargassed, and violently arrested during peaceful protests, including Rev. David Black (PCUSA), Rev. Hannah Kardon (UMC), and Rev. Jorge Bautista (UCC).
Several other clergy have been shot, teargassed, and violently arrested during peaceful protests, including Rev. David Black (PCUSA), Rev. Hannah Kardon (UMC), and Rev. Jorge Bautista (UCC).
Baptist Pastor Shot in Leg by Officer During All Saints’ Day March Outside ICE Facility
As Baptist pastor Michael Woolf marched on All Saints’ Day in an anti-ICE protest in the Chicago area, he suddenly felt a sting in his leg as a pepper ball round struck him.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
November 5, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Saturday’s pepper-balling of Baptist pastor Michael Woolf is not an isolated incident.
Several other clergy have been shot, teargassed, and violently arrested during peaceful protests, including Rev. David Black (PCUSA), Rev. Hannah Kardon (UMC), and Rev. Jorge Bautista (UCC).
Several other clergy have been shot, teargassed, and violently arrested during peaceful protests, including Rev. David Black (PCUSA), Rev. Hannah Kardon (UMC), and Rev. Jorge Bautista (UCC).
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
How Christian Nationalist school board members in Texas campaigned vs. how they did
November 5, 2025 at 2:30 PM
How Christian Nationalist school board members in Texas campaigned vs. how they did
As usual, exit polling on religion last night was atrocious. Only question in VA was are voters White Evangelicals, which told us nothing! Of course they voted big for GOP. Doesn't tell us why Dem won big. Obsession with evangelicals is a problem: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-christ... 1/
November 5, 2025 at 1:57 PM
As usual, exit polling on religion last night was atrocious. Only question in VA was are voters White Evangelicals, which told us nothing! Of course they voted big for GOP. Doesn't tell us why Dem won big. Obsession with evangelicals is a problem: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-christ... 1/
Mamdani elected NYC mayor.
Nice to see Islamophobia wasn't able to put sexual predator back in office!
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-finger...
Nice to see Islamophobia wasn't able to put sexual predator back in office!
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-finger...
The Finger of Suspicion
Andrew Cuomo resigned in disgrace as governor of New York in 2021 while he faced numerous allegations of sexual misconduct.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
November 5, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Mamdani elected NYC mayor.
Nice to see Islamophobia wasn't able to put sexual predator back in office!
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-finger...
Nice to see Islamophobia wasn't able to put sexual predator back in office!
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-finger...
Dem. Abigail Spanberger wins VA governor race. GOP nominee Winsome Earle-Sears had framed her campaign as spiritual battle against God's enemies (www.youtube.com/shorts/BbQt9...). That didn't work out!
November 5, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Dem. Abigail Spanberger wins VA governor race. GOP nominee Winsome Earle-Sears had framed her campaign as spiritual battle against God's enemies (www.youtube.com/shorts/BbQt9...). That didn't work out!
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
Something to watch/listen to while you wait for election results? Just me?
Join me, @briankaylor.bsky.social + Beau Underwood for a little monthly newscast we’re trying out for @wordandway.bsky.social !
youtu.be/K-JwwzzmhDA?...
Join me, @briankaylor.bsky.social + Beau Underwood for a little monthly newscast we’re trying out for @wordandway.bsky.social !
youtu.be/K-JwwzzmhDA?...
News Roundup: Elections, Government Shutdown, & Clergy Challenging ICE
YouTube video by Brian Kaylor
youtu.be
November 4, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Something to watch/listen to while you wait for election results? Just me?
Join me, @briankaylor.bsky.social + Beau Underwood for a little monthly newscast we’re trying out for @wordandway.bsky.social !
youtu.be/K-JwwzzmhDA?...
Join me, @briankaylor.bsky.social + Beau Underwood for a little monthly newscast we’re trying out for @wordandway.bsky.social !
youtu.be/K-JwwzzmhDA?...
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
The latest episode of our Dangerous Dogma podcast features a conversation between @briankaylor.bsky.social, @angeladenker.bsky.social, & Beau Underwood about religious attacks leading up to today’s elections in NYC and Minneapolis, the government shutdown impacting churches, & clergy protesting ICE.
News Roundup: Elections, Government Shutdown, & Clergy Challenging ICE
YouTube video by Brian Kaylor
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:50 PM
The latest episode of our Dangerous Dogma podcast features a conversation between @briankaylor.bsky.social, @angeladenker.bsky.social, & Beau Underwood about religious attacks leading up to today’s elections in NYC and Minneapolis, the government shutdown impacting churches, & clergy protesting ICE.
Happy book publication day to @dianabutlerbass.bsky.social for 'A Beautiful Year: 52 Meditations on Faith, Wisdom, and Perseverance'! As always, a much-needed voice for these times.
bookshop.org/a/110819/978...
bookshop.org/a/110819/978...
A Beautiful Year: 52 Meditations on Faith, Wisdom, and Perseverance
52 Meditations on Faith, Wisdom, and Perseverance
bookshop.org
November 4, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Happy book publication day to @dianabutlerbass.bsky.social for 'A Beautiful Year: 52 Meditations on Faith, Wisdom, and Perseverance'! As always, a much-needed voice for these times.
bookshop.org/a/110819/978...
bookshop.org/a/110819/978...
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
Thanks to @wordandway.bsky.social for covering this - we have to continue to fight what is happening at Broadview. It is torture pure and simple.
Today’s issue of A Public Witness explores the story of @revdrmichaelwoolf.bsky.social, an American Baptist/Alliance of Baptists pastor who became the latest clergy to experience violent state tactics being used against peaceful protesters.
Baptist Pastor Shot in Leg by Officer During All Saints’ Day March Outside ICE Facility
As Baptist pastor Michael Woolf marched on All Saints’ Day in an anti-ICE protest in the Chicago area, he suddenly felt a sting in his leg as a pepper ball round struck him.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
November 4, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Thanks to @wordandway.bsky.social for covering this - we have to continue to fight what is happening at Broadview. It is torture pure and simple.
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
Note: By my count, this brings number of clergy who claim to have been and/or have been *filmed* being hit with projectiles shot by ICE/DHS or Illinois state police to *7.*
My latest report:
Baptist Pastor Shot in Leg by Officer During All Saints’ Day March Outside ICE Facility
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/baptist-pa...
Baptist Pastor Shot in Leg by Officer During All Saints’ Day March Outside ICE Facility
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/baptist-pa...
Baptist Pastor Shot in Leg by Officer During All Saints’ Day March Outside ICE Facility
As Baptist pastor Michael Woolf marched on All Saints’ Day in an anti-ICE protest in the Chicago area, he suddenly felt a sting in his leg as a pepper ball round struck him.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
November 4, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Note: By my count, this brings number of clergy who claim to have been and/or have been *filmed* being hit with projectiles shot by ICE/DHS or Illinois state police to *7.*