Daniel Silliman
@danielsilliman.bsky.social
Journalist. Historian. Church deacon. Raising cats, chickens, and bees in Appalachia.
Pinned
“Let the transient things be the ground on which my soul praises you, God creator of all.” —Augustine, *Confessions*
Turns out white evangelical support for Donald Trump isn't immovable
February 9, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Turns out white evangelical support for Donald Trump isn't immovable
A Baptist pastor told the FBI he didn’t consider himself a pedophile but had long struggled with a p*rn addiction.
He had more than 100,000 obscene images of children on two hard drives when he was arrested. Last week, 14 women whose abuse was captured in those images filed suit against him.
He had more than 100,000 obscene images of children on two hard drives when he was arrested. Last week, 14 women whose abuse was captured in those images filed suit against him.
February 9, 2026 at 6:08 PM
A Baptist pastor told the FBI he didn’t consider himself a pedophile but had long struggled with a p*rn addiction.
He had more than 100,000 obscene images of children on two hard drives when he was arrested. Last week, 14 women whose abuse was captured in those images filed suit against him.
He had more than 100,000 obscene images of children on two hard drives when he was arrested. Last week, 14 women whose abuse was captured in those images filed suit against him.
“Offering and publishing legitimate critiques of the state, which often involves engagement with international platforms and audiences, may now easily be construed as ‘collusion’” in Hong Kong apnews.com/article/hong...
China critic and former media tycoon Jimmy Lai is sentenced to 20 years in a Hong Kong security case
Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy former Hong Kong media tycoon and a fierce critic of Beijing, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in one of the most prominent cases prosecuted under a China-imposed ...
apnews.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:46 PM
“Offering and publishing legitimate critiques of the state, which often involves engagement with international platforms and audiences, may now easily be construed as ‘collusion’” in Hong Kong apnews.com/article/hong...
Along with major media industry layoffs at the Washington Post and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CBN cut around 90 jobs this week.
February 7, 2026 at 12:59 PM
Along with major media industry layoffs at the Washington Post and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CBN cut around 90 jobs this week.
Fact of the day: There are more than 10,000 artists on Spotify tagged as “Christian hip-hop,” making it one of the platform’s largest sub-genres of rap.
February 6, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Fact of the day: There are more than 10,000 artists on Spotify tagged as “Christian hip-hop,” making it one of the platform’s largest sub-genres of rap.
Interesting book that doesn’t quite know the moral of the morality tale it’s telling.
February 5, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Interesting book that doesn’t quite know the moral of the morality tale it’s telling.
A little mind-bendy: A Presbyterian elder is not being allowed to leave a Florida church that left the Presbyterian Church in America.
February 5, 2026 at 11:31 AM
A little mind-bendy: A Presbyterian elder is not being allowed to leave a Florida church that left the Presbyterian Church in America.
Interesting stat from Pew.
Also, it looks like 13% of Americans say religion is very important but they *don't* attend religious services weekly or more.
Also, it looks like 13% of Americans say religion is very important but they *don't* attend religious services weekly or more.
February 4, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Interesting stat from Pew.
Also, it looks like 13% of Americans say religion is very important but they *don't* attend religious services weekly or more.
Also, it looks like 13% of Americans say religion is very important but they *don't* attend religious services weekly or more.
"This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations," former Executive Editor Marty Baron said in a statement Wednesday.
February 4, 2026 at 4:37 PM
"This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations," former Executive Editor Marty Baron said in a statement Wednesday.
"Love your enemies ... so that you may be children of your Father in heaven"
February 4, 2026 at 12:00 PM
"Love your enemies ... so that you may be children of your Father in heaven"
A thoughtful article on a perennial question substack.com/home/post/p-...
Reading Philip Yancey after His Confession
I spent some time yesterday morning re-reading a couple of Philip Yancey’s books.
substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 7:48 PM
A thoughtful article on a perennial question substack.com/home/post/p-...
Seeing the Sistine Chapel in Rome was one of the more disappointing experiences I've had with great historic art. Mostly tourists quietly taking photos and then guards loudly scolding them. apnews.com/article/last...
Michelangelo's 'The Last Judgment' fresco undergoes 3-month cleaning at Sistine Chapel
Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgment” is undergoing its first major restoration in three decades. The imposing fresco of heaven and hell dominates the Sistine Chapel.
apnews.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Seeing the Sistine Chapel in Rome was one of the more disappointing experiences I've had with great historic art. Mostly tourists quietly taking photos and then guards loudly scolding them. apnews.com/article/last...
I looked through the last (?) document dump of the Epstein files for names of evangelical leaders. There aren't many, but some.
Jeffrey Epstein recommended reading James Dobson and Ken Starr signed off an email to the sex offender with "hugs."
Jeffrey Epstein recommended reading James Dobson and Ken Starr signed off an email to the sex offender with "hugs."
February 3, 2026 at 10:58 AM
I looked through the last (?) document dump of the Epstein files for names of evangelical leaders. There aren't many, but some.
Jeffrey Epstein recommended reading James Dobson and Ken Starr signed off an email to the sex offender with "hugs."
Jeffrey Epstein recommended reading James Dobson and Ken Starr signed off an email to the sex offender with "hugs."
A few evangelicals appear in the Epstein files, including James Dobson, Eric Metaxas and Ken Starr.
My reporting here: julieroys.com/jeffrey-epst...
My reporting here: julieroys.com/jeffrey-epst...
Jeffrey Epstein recommended reading James Dobson
An article by Christian psychologist James Dobson caught the attention of millionaire financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
julieroys.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:01 AM
A few evangelicals appear in the Epstein files, including James Dobson, Eric Metaxas and Ken Starr.
My reporting here: julieroys.com/jeffrey-epst...
My reporting here: julieroys.com/jeffrey-epst...
Call upon him
Call upon him
There is power in the name
Call upon him
There is power in the name
February 1, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Call upon him
Call upon him
There is power in the name
Call upon him
There is power in the name
On the substack this morning
January 31, 2026 at 2:22 PM
On the substack this morning
Reposted by Daniel Silliman
Local newspapers are needed to cover these stories. Support yours. #LocalNewspapers
A legal asylum-seeker who works at Chipotle and plays music at a church in Maine went missing. His pastor searched and searched, eventually finding his abandoned car with the keys on the floor.
ICE grabbed him. No criminal record. No explanation.
ICE grabbed him. No criminal record. No explanation.
January 31, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Local newspapers are needed to cover these stories. Support yours. #LocalNewspapers
This week in the life of my Appalachian church, I was lucky enough to sit in a pew where I got to hold a baby.
On Wednesday at the gym, a grandpa who doesn’t go to our church said “Heard you got to hold that baby in church!”
On Wednesday at the gym, a grandpa who doesn’t go to our church said “Heard you got to hold that baby in church!”
January 30, 2026 at 12:41 PM
This week in the life of my Appalachian church, I was lucky enough to sit in a pew where I got to hold a baby.
On Wednesday at the gym, a grandpa who doesn’t go to our church said “Heard you got to hold that baby in church!”
On Wednesday at the gym, a grandpa who doesn’t go to our church said “Heard you got to hold that baby in church!”
A legal asylum-seeker who works at Chipotle and plays music at a church in Maine went missing. His pastor searched and searched, eventually finding his abandoned car with the keys on the floor.
ICE grabbed him. No criminal record. No explanation.
ICE grabbed him. No criminal record. No explanation.
January 29, 2026 at 3:58 PM
A legal asylum-seeker who works at Chipotle and plays music at a church in Maine went missing. His pastor searched and searched, eventually finding his abandoned car with the keys on the floor.
ICE grabbed him. No criminal record. No explanation.
ICE grabbed him. No criminal record. No explanation.
A Reformed Presbyterian minister got deep into “race realism” and then, prompted by Charlie Kirk’s assassination, started publicly advocating for white supremacy.
Last week, the church responded. My latest reporting at @julieroys.bsky.social:
Last week, the church responded. My latest reporting at @julieroys.bsky.social:
January 29, 2026 at 11:40 AM
A Reformed Presbyterian minister got deep into “race realism” and then, prompted by Charlie Kirk’s assassination, started publicly advocating for white supremacy.
Last week, the church responded. My latest reporting at @julieroys.bsky.social:
Last week, the church responded. My latest reporting at @julieroys.bsky.social:
The decline of a legacy media org feels extra tragic, I think, when the big problem is bad decisions at the top
January 28, 2026 at 7:25 PM
The decline of a legacy media org feels extra tragic, I think, when the big problem is bad decisions at the top
Nope no nope unh-unh no. Do not like.
January 27, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Nope no nope unh-unh no. Do not like.
One practical change the charismatic megachurch Bethel is promising in response to extensive evidence of a coverup culture: “wider communication when substantiated allegations are brought forth and met with unrepentence.”
One question: Is the church sitting on any cases like that right now?
One question: Is the church sitting on any cases like that right now?
January 27, 2026 at 12:17 PM
One practical change the charismatic megachurch Bethel is promising in response to extensive evidence of a coverup culture: “wider communication when substantiated allegations are brought forth and met with unrepentence.”
One question: Is the church sitting on any cases like that right now?
One question: Is the church sitting on any cases like that right now?
This week on the podcast, 12 news stories you might have missed, including a change to the way the U.S. calculates environmental costs, a relaunched nuclear reactor, and an Olympic ski jump scandal.
January 27, 2026 at 11:32 AM
This week on the podcast, 12 news stories you might have missed, including a change to the way the U.S. calculates environmental costs, a relaunched nuclear reactor, and an Olympic ski jump scandal.
Weird religious story from the @washingtonpost.com:
"The man who introduced Donald Trump to Melania Knauss wanted to infuse the world’s most elite economic conference with the spirit of MAGA. So Paolo Zampolli hauled a sculpture of a bull ... inside a 19th-century church" in Davos.
"The man who introduced Donald Trump to Melania Knauss wanted to infuse the world’s most elite economic conference with the spirit of MAGA. So Paolo Zampolli hauled a sculpture of a bull ... inside a 19th-century church" in Davos.
January 26, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Weird religious story from the @washingtonpost.com:
"The man who introduced Donald Trump to Melania Knauss wanted to infuse the world’s most elite economic conference with the spirit of MAGA. So Paolo Zampolli hauled a sculpture of a bull ... inside a 19th-century church" in Davos.
"The man who introduced Donald Trump to Melania Knauss wanted to infuse the world’s most elite economic conference with the spirit of MAGA. So Paolo Zampolli hauled a sculpture of a bull ... inside a 19th-century church" in Davos.