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
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
Both supporters and critics alike say this religious turn has little modern precedent — and it may be just the beginning. https://cnn.it/46EQJpa
February 15, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Both supporters and critics alike say this religious turn has little modern precedent — and it may be just the beginning. https://cnn.it/46EQJpa
Good @cnn.com article on how "Trump has chipped away at the long-standing wall between church & state." Nice to be included in the piece to offer a warning/critique of Trump admin's #ChristianNationalism (along with @rachellaser.bsky.social & @randallbalmer.bsky.social).
www.cnn.com/2026/02/15/p...
www.cnn.com/2026/02/15/p...
Trump has chipped away at the long-standing wall between church and state. It’s just the beginning | CNN Politics
A series of faith initiatives championed by the White House has led to a systematic religious revival within the government’s operations, culture and policy.
www.cnn.com
February 15, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Good @cnn.com article on how "Trump has chipped away at the long-standing wall between church & state." Nice to be included in the piece to offer a warning/critique of Trump admin's #ChristianNationalism (along with @rachellaser.bsky.social & @randallbalmer.bsky.social).
www.cnn.com/2026/02/15/p...
www.cnn.com/2026/02/15/p...
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
Yesterday’s ruling came in one of several cases filed by religious groups seeking to protect houses of worship from immigration raids after the Trump administration rescinded a policy barring operations by ICE or border patrol agents in “sensitive” or “protected” places.
Judge Freezes ICE Raids at Some Baptist, Lutheran, & MCC Churches
For the second time in a year, a federal judge has issued an injunction to block the Department of Homeland Security from conducting warrantless immigration enforcement actions at some houses of worsh...
publicwitness.wordandway.org
February 14, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Yesterday’s ruling came in one of several cases filed by religious groups seeking to protect houses of worship from immigration raids after the Trump administration rescinded a policy barring operations by ICE or border patrol agents in “sensitive” or “protected” places.
Instead of this hagiography of Pritzker, MJ should've talked to Illinois clergy violently arrested & shot by state troopers for protesting against ICE (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/baptist-pa...). Under Pritzker's leadership, state troopers did ICE's dirty work. So I don't care about his rhetoric.
The Democratic Party is filled with ambitious politicians who lost their sense of urgency after Trump won.
Pritzker did not talk about authoritarianism like someone who was trying to fundraise (obviously) or get attention. He talked about authoritarianism like someone who is haunted by its ghosts.
Pritzker did not talk about authoritarianism like someone who was trying to fundraise (obviously) or get attention. He talked about authoritarianism like someone who is haunted by its ghosts.
What being a billionaire scion taught JB Pritzker about standing up to one
Few national Democrats have pushed back as forcefully against Trump’s authoritarian crackdown. There’s a reason for that.
www.motherjones.com
February 14, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Instead of this hagiography of Pritzker, MJ should've talked to Illinois clergy violently arrested & shot by state troopers for protesting against ICE (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/baptist-pa...). Under Pritzker's leadership, state troopers did ICE's dirty work. So I don't care about his rhetoric.
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
Nice to have some good news to report:
Judge Freezes ICE Raids at Some Baptist, Lutheran, & MCC Churches
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/judge-free...
Judge Freezes ICE Raids at Some Baptist, Lutheran, & MCC Churches
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/judge-free...
Judge Freezes ICE Raids at Some Baptist, Lutheran, & MCC Churches
For the second time in a year, a federal judge has issued an injunction to block the Department of Homeland Security from conducting warrantless immigration enforcement actions at some houses of worsh...
publicwitness.wordandway.org
February 14, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Nice to have some good news to report:
Judge Freezes ICE Raids at Some Baptist, Lutheran, & MCC Churches
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/judge-free...
Judge Freezes ICE Raids at Some Baptist, Lutheran, & MCC Churches
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/judge-free...
Nice to have some good news to report:
Judge Freezes ICE Raids at Some Baptist, Lutheran, & MCC Churches
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/judge-free...
Judge Freezes ICE Raids at Some Baptist, Lutheran, & MCC Churches
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/judge-free...
Judge Freezes ICE Raids at Some Baptist, Lutheran, & MCC Churches
For the second time in a year, a federal judge has issued an injunction to block the Department of Homeland Security from conducting warrantless immigration enforcement actions at some houses of worsh...
publicwitness.wordandway.org
February 14, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Nice to have some good news to report:
Judge Freezes ICE Raids at Some Baptist, Lutheran, & MCC Churches
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/judge-free...
Judge Freezes ICE Raids at Some Baptist, Lutheran, & MCC Churches
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/judge-free...
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
FFRF Action Fund’s “Secularist of the Week” is @briankaylor.bsky.social for his diligent coverage on the Trump administration’s government-run worship services. #[ffrf.us/4rAScpf
February 13, 2026 at 11:16 PM
FFRF Action Fund’s “Secularist of the Week” is @briankaylor.bsky.social for his diligent coverage on the Trump administration’s government-run worship services. #[ffrf.us/4rAScpf
BREAKING: US Judge Saylor (appointed by W Bush) issued an injunction blocking DHS from conducting immigration actions at houses of worship. Only applies to plaintiff denominations, including American Baptists, Alliance of Baptists, Metropolitan Community Churches & several ELCA & Quaker groups.
February 13, 2026 at 10:43 PM
BREAKING: US Judge Saylor (appointed by W Bush) issued an injunction blocking DHS from conducting immigration actions at houses of worship. Only applies to plaintiff denominations, including American Baptists, Alliance of Baptists, Metropolitan Community Churches & several ELCA & Quaker groups.
This WSJ article on Kristi Noem details a lot of wild, unethical (& perhaps illegal) behavior:
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
All of this makes the silence of her church's leaders morally problematic: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-silenc...
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
All of this makes the silence of her church's leaders morally problematic: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-silenc...
A Pilot Fired Over Kristi Noem’s Missing Blanket and the Constant Chaos Inside DHS
Secretary faces fire for confrontational immigration crackdown and self-promotional style; White House to wind down Minnesota operations.
www.wsj.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:07 PM
This WSJ article on Kristi Noem details a lot of wild, unethical (& perhaps illegal) behavior:
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
All of this makes the silence of her church's leaders morally problematic: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-silenc...
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
All of this makes the silence of her church's leaders morally problematic: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-silenc...
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
Our latest religion news roundup features stories about music at last week’s National Prayer Breakfast, a legal development on pastors peacefully protesting ICE, the latest effort to create a sectarian public school, and more.
Weekly Roundup: Feb. 13
Here’s the weekly roundup from A Public Witness. In addition to a report on the latest government worship service that is free for anyone to read, paid subscribers to A Public Witness received a look ...
publicwitness.wordandway.org
February 13, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Our latest religion news roundup features stories about music at last week’s National Prayer Breakfast, a legal development on pastors peacefully protesting ICE, the latest effort to create a sectarian public school, and more.
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
Via @washingtonpost.com: Video footage appears to contradict key claims in the government's indictment against journalist Don Lemon regarding a protest last month inside a Minnesota church www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
The Don Lemon indictment: Video appears to contradict key claims
A Washington Post review of videos from the protest at Minnesota’s Cities Church in January offers a detailed look at Lemon’s movements that day.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Via @washingtonpost.com: Video footage appears to contradict key claims in the government's indictment against journalist Don Lemon regarding a protest last month inside a Minnesota church www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
Honored to be named "Secularist of the Week" by @ffrfaction.bsky.social. I'd like to imagine the Oscar narrator saying this is my 1st win :)
I'm grateful for the attention to my reporting on government worship services. Those services should be a bigger scandal.
ffrfaction.org/baptist-mini...
I'm grateful for the attention to my reporting on government worship services. Those services should be a bigger scandal.
ffrfaction.org/baptist-mini...
Baptist minister covers Trump administration’s government-run worship - FFRF Action Fund
FFRF Action Fund chooses a Baptist minister as its “Secularist of the Week” for his diligent coverage of the Trump administration’s hosting of worship
ffrfaction.org
February 13, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Honored to be named "Secularist of the Week" by @ffrfaction.bsky.social. I'd like to imagine the Oscar narrator saying this is my 1st win :)
I'm grateful for the attention to my reporting on government worship services. Those services should be a bigger scandal.
ffrfaction.org/baptist-mini...
I'm grateful for the attention to my reporting on government worship services. Those services should be a bigger scandal.
ffrfaction.org/baptist-mini...
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
DOJ's prosecution of Lemon, Fort, and the protesters is part of a broader Trump administration effort to constrain religious freedom to be only for white, right-wing Christians. I discussed this last week on Reign of Error with @briankaylor.bsky.social:
redcircle.com/shows/fbed71...
redcircle.com/shows/fbed71...
003: Weaponizing “Religious Freedom”: Trump’s DOJ, "Religious Liberty," and the Attack on a Free Press
Listen to Reign of Error with Sarah Posner on RedCircle
redcircle.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:22 PM
DOJ's prosecution of Lemon, Fort, and the protesters is part of a broader Trump administration effort to constrain religious freedom to be only for white, right-wing Christians. I discussed this last week on Reign of Error with @briankaylor.bsky.social:
redcircle.com/shows/fbed71...
redcircle.com/shows/fbed71...
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
This month’s live Point of View (POV) brings a close reading of several U.S. government social media posts that pair Bible verses and prayers with military messaging.
www.youtube.com/live/vhrpbI8...
www.youtube.com/live/vhrpbI8...
POV: When Government Uses Scripture – A Live Conversation with Brian Kaylor
YouTube video by Faithful Politics Podcast
www.youtube.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:54 PM
This month’s live Point of View (POV) brings a close reading of several U.S. government social media posts that pair Bible verses and prayers with military messaging.
www.youtube.com/live/vhrpbI8...
www.youtube.com/live/vhrpbI8...
I enjoyed going on Faithful Politics Podcast to unpack how the Department of Homeland Security has been co-opting the Bible. We walked through various posts & videos to talk about the misuse of Scripture: www.youtube.com/watch?v=316S...
When Government Quotes the Bible: Brian Kaylor on DHS, Faith, and Public Messaging
YouTube video by Faithful Politics Podcast
www.youtube.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:50 PM
I enjoyed going on Faithful Politics Podcast to unpack how the Department of Homeland Security has been co-opting the Bible. We walked through various posts & videos to talk about the misuse of Scripture: www.youtube.com/watch?v=316S...
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
It bears repeating that your Christian faith can and will be violated by the regime the moment you object to the regime on Christian grounds.
By “Christian nation” he means a nation of people whose Christian faith gets permission to exist by the state.
By “Christian nation” he means a nation of people whose Christian faith gets permission to exist by the state.
ICYMI At National Prayer Breakfast, Hegseth Says US Soldiers Gain Salvation by Dying for ‘Christian Nation’ publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/at-nationa...
At National Prayer Breakfast, Hegseth Says US Soldiers Gain Salvation by Dying for ‘Christian Nation’
While Trump's remarks dominate the headlines about the event, more concerning Christian Nationalist comments came a few minutes later.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
February 12, 2026 at 6:08 PM
It bears repeating that your Christian faith can and will be violated by the regime the moment you object to the regime on Christian grounds.
By “Christian nation” he means a nation of people whose Christian faith gets permission to exist by the state.
By “Christian nation” he means a nation of people whose Christian faith gets permission to exist by the state.
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
This is such an odd thing to say…
“God says that man has to work of the sweat of his brows. So if Secretary says, ‘Go do it,’ you just have to get some vigor in there. And if you do a little bit of sweat, just put it in a cup and show it to her and let her know that you’re working.”
– Leon Benjamin at the government service today
– Leon Benjamin at the government service today
At Labor Department Prayer Service, MAGA Preacher Says Employees are Working for God and Trump
During the third monthly Christian worship service held inside the U.S. Department of Labor’s office building in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, a Trumpian pastor baptized the work of the federal agen...
publicwitness.wordandway.org
February 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM
This is such an odd thing to say…
Hegseth getting slapped by a judge is great. That judge tossing in a Bob Dylan line is icing on the cake!
Leon, a George W. Bush appointee famous for his use of the exclamation point, uncorks a few here, and drops in a Bob Dylan quote for good measure. He says Hegseth and the Pentagon have "trampled on Senator Kelly's First Amendment freedoms." ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show...
February 12, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Hegseth getting slapped by a judge is great. That judge tossing in a Bob Dylan line is icing on the cake!
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
You see, they're sending them to a camp in TX, where abortion is illegal, because "pro-life."
"Some were as young as 13, and at least half of those taken in so far became pregnant as a result of rape... Their pregnancies are considered high risk by definition, particularly for the youngest girls."
"Some were as young as 13, and at least half of those taken in so far became pregnant as a result of rape... Their pregnancies are considered high risk by definition, particularly for the youngest girls."
The Trump administration is incarcerating migrant girls in, essentially, a forced pregnancy camp.
Trump administration is sending pregnant migrant girls to South Texas shelter flagged as medically inadequate
Government sources and advocates for the children worry the goal is to concentrate them in Texas, where abortion is banned.
www.kut.org
February 12, 2026 at 4:33 PM
You see, they're sending them to a camp in TX, where abortion is illegal, because "pro-life."
"Some were as young as 13, and at least half of those taken in so far became pregnant as a result of rape... Their pregnancies are considered high risk by definition, particularly for the youngest girls."
"Some were as young as 13, and at least half of those taken in so far became pregnant as a result of rape... Their pregnancies are considered high risk by definition, particularly for the youngest girls."
Good @missouriindependent.com report on crazy Senate Education Committee hearing. I was there to testify against a #ChristianNationalist bill that was pulled at last minute, but I stayed long enough to see the 2 Dem members rightly lay into committee chair.
missouriindependent.com/2026/02/12/p...
missouriindependent.com/2026/02/12/p...
Partisan clash erupts in Missouri Senate education hearing on transgender students • Missouri Independent
Democrats on the Missouri Senate Education Committee speak out against the chairman's choice of divisive bills over bipartisan reforms.
missouriindependent.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Good @missouriindependent.com report on crazy Senate Education Committee hearing. I was there to testify against a #ChristianNationalist bill that was pulled at last minute, but I stayed long enough to see the 2 Dem members rightly lay into committee chair.
missouriindependent.com/2026/02/12/p...
missouriindependent.com/2026/02/12/p...
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
“God says that man has to work of the sweat of his brows. So if Secretary says, ‘Go do it,’ you just have to get some vigor in there. And if you do a little bit of sweat, just put it in a cup and show it to her and let her know that you’re working.”
– Leon Benjamin at the government service today
– Leon Benjamin at the government service today
At Labor Department Prayer Service, MAGA Preacher Says Employees are Working for God and Trump
During the third monthly Christian worship service held inside the U.S. Department of Labor’s office building in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, a Trumpian pastor baptized the work of the federal agen...
publicwitness.wordandway.org
February 11, 2026 at 10:27 PM
“God says that man has to work of the sweat of his brows. So if Secretary says, ‘Go do it,’ you just have to get some vigor in there. And if you do a little bit of sweat, just put it in a cup and show it to her and let her know that you’re working.”
– Leon Benjamin at the government service today
– Leon Benjamin at the government service today
Labor Department just held its 3rd monthly worship service. They invited a MAGA preacher who told employees they should be working for God & Trump. Oh, & he also expects his rabbit to work.
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/at-labor-d...
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/at-labor-d...
At Labor Department Prayer Service, MAGA Preacher Says Employees are Working for God and Trump
During the third monthly Christian worship service held inside the U.S. Department of Labor’s office building in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, a Trumpian pastor baptized the work of the federal agen...
publicwitness.wordandway.org
February 11, 2026 at 9:44 PM
Labor Department just held its 3rd monthly worship service. They invited a MAGA preacher who told employees they should be working for God & Trump. Oh, & he also expects his rabbit to work.
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/at-labor-d...
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/at-labor-d...
Concerned about drones from cartels, the US military shot down a "party balloon" (www.foxnews.com/politics/us-...).
Keep that in mind when the Pentagon executes people while claiming without evidence they're blowing up cartel boats.
Keep that in mind when the Pentagon executes people while claiming without evidence they're blowing up cartel boats.
February 11, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Concerned about drones from cartels, the US military shot down a "party balloon" (www.foxnews.com/politics/us-...).
Keep that in mind when the Pentagon executes people while claiming without evidence they're blowing up cartel boats.
Keep that in mind when the Pentagon executes people while claiming without evidence they're blowing up cartel boats.
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
100s of rabbis, cantors and other Jews outside ICE today protesting the Trump Administration’s immigration actions
February 11, 2026 at 8:15 PM
100s of rabbis, cantors and other Jews outside ICE today protesting the Trump Administration’s immigration actions
Look, Trump is a horrible person & Epstein files help show that. But this is a dumb argument. The Epstein files are substantially longer than the Bible so of course some words are in that more than "God" is in Bible.
(Also, Moskowitz apparently doesn't realize the 'Trump Bible' is in the King James)
(Also, Moskowitz apparently doesn't realize the 'Trump Bible' is in the King James)
Moskowitz: "Trump's name appears more times in the Epstein files than God's name appears in the book about God"
February 11, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Look, Trump is a horrible person & Epstein files help show that. But this is a dumb argument. The Epstein files are substantially longer than the Bible so of course some words are in that more than "God" is in Bible.
(Also, Moskowitz apparently doesn't realize the 'Trump Bible' is in the King James)
(Also, Moskowitz apparently doesn't realize the 'Trump Bible' is in the King James)