Neil Alan Willard
@neilwillard.bsky.social
Presbyter, Episcopal Diocese of Texas,
Rector, Palmer Memorial Church, Houston,
Grandson of Old North State Tobacco Farmers,
Lover of Rescue Dogs, and Wearer of Seersucker.
Rector, Palmer Memorial Church, Houston,
Grandson of Old North State Tobacco Farmers,
Lover of Rescue Dogs, and Wearer of Seersucker.
Pinned
Work in progress continues on this Shrine for a Barn Owl
It is my bounden duty to post this as the Rector of an Episcopal parish across the street from Rice University in Houston, Texas. Go Owls! 🦉💙🩶
Reposted by Neil Alan Willard
Punxsutawney has Phil.
Houston has Ted.
Houston has Ted.
A spokesperson for Sen. Ted Cruz, who famously left Texas for Cancún during 2021's deadly winter storm, confirmed to Houston Public Media that he is traveling out of the state days before another winter storm is projected to hit.
Ted Cruz is traveling out of Texas days before a winter storm is expected to hit
A photo appearing to depict the Republican Senator on a plane went viral on social media, after Cruz famously left Texas for Cancún during 2021's deadly winter storm. A spokesperson for Cruz said Wednesday he "will be back in Texas before the storm is projected to hit."
www.houstonpublicmedia.org
January 21, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Punxsutawney has Phil.
Houston has Ted.
Houston has Ted.
Punxsutawney has Phil.
Houston has Ted.
Houston has Ted.
A spokesperson for Sen. Ted Cruz, who famously left Texas for Cancún during 2021's deadly winter storm, confirmed to Houston Public Media that he is traveling out of the state days before another winter storm is projected to hit.
Ted Cruz is traveling out of Texas days before a winter storm is expected to hit
A photo appearing to depict the Republican Senator on a plane went viral on social media, after Cruz famously left Texas for Cancún during 2021's deadly winter storm. A spokesperson for Cruz said Wednesday he "will be back in Texas before the storm is projected to hit."
www.houstonpublicmedia.org
January 21, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Punxsutawney has Phil.
Houston has Ted.
Houston has Ted.
Reposted by Neil Alan Willard
New tariffs, insults and threats of invasion by President Trump have triggered a backlash in Davos, and the reactions from many U.S. allies and partners are stark: Trump’s America seems to have lost its mind. on.wsj.com/45lJYrM
January 21, 2026 at 4:39 PM
New tariffs, insults and threats of invasion by President Trump have triggered a backlash in Davos, and the reactions from many U.S. allies and partners are stark: Trump’s America seems to have lost its mind. on.wsj.com/45lJYrM
Reposted by Neil Alan Willard
“Every one of these individuals is a person of color who has had this happen to them.”
Federal agents are pulling over off duty cops based on the color of their skin.
This is not a serious operation to enforce immigration law. It’s a performative show of force and it’s gotten way out of hand.
This is not a serious operation to enforce immigration law. It’s a performative show of force and it’s gotten way out of hand.
January 21, 2026 at 3:24 AM
“Every one of these individuals is a person of color who has had this happen to them.”
“Every one of these individuals is a person of color who has had this happen to them.”
Federal agents are pulling over off duty cops based on the color of their skin.
This is not a serious operation to enforce immigration law. It’s a performative show of force and it’s gotten way out of hand.
This is not a serious operation to enforce immigration law. It’s a performative show of force and it’s gotten way out of hand.
January 21, 2026 at 3:24 AM
“Every one of these individuals is a person of color who has had this happen to them.”
“Under the U.S. Constitution, people detained by the government have the right to consult an attorney. While immigration detention is considered a civil process—meaning the government is not required to provide a lawyer—detainees must be given a reasonable opportunity to contact legal counsel . . .”
Army veteran says ICE agents detained him for hours without access to phone or his attorney
A combat-wounded veteran's eight-hour detention by federal agents in Minneapolis raises concerns about due process in ICE facilities.
www.kare11.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:08 AM
“Under the U.S. Constitution, people detained by the government have the right to consult an attorney. While immigration detention is considered a civil process—meaning the government is not required to provide a lawyer—detainees must be given a reasonable opportunity to contact legal counsel . . .”
Reposted by Neil Alan Willard
Brooklyn Park police chief Mark Bruley: "We're hearing people being stopped with no cause & being demanded to show paperwork to determine if they're here legally. We started hearing from our police officers the same complaints. Every one of these individuals is a person of color... it has to stop"
January 20, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Brooklyn Park police chief Mark Bruley: "We're hearing people being stopped with no cause & being demanded to show paperwork to determine if they're here legally. We started hearing from our police officers the same complaints. Every one of these individuals is a person of color... it has to stop"
Reposted by Neil Alan Willard
According to Bishop Andrew Waldo, who was a priest colleague of mine in the Episcopal Diocese of MN and is now retired there, this terrorized man, ChongLy Thao, is a cousin of one of the priests at the Hmong-majority Episcopal congregation in the Twin Cities. Oh, and Thao is indeed a U.S. citizen. ⚓️
ICE broke into Minnesota home, dragged barely clothed man into snow
A Minnesota man told Reuters on Monday he felt fear, shame and desperation a day after ICE officers broke down his door with guns drawn, handcuffed him and dragged him into the snow wearing shorts and...
www.reuters.com
January 20, 2026 at 5:49 AM
According to Bishop Andrew Waldo, who was a priest colleague of mine in the Episcopal Diocese of MN and is now retired there, this terrorized man, ChongLy Thao, is a cousin of one of the priests at the Hmong-majority Episcopal congregation in the Twin Cities. Oh, and Thao is indeed a U.S. citizen. ⚓️
According to Bishop Andrew Waldo, who was a priest colleague of mine in the Episcopal Diocese of MN and is now retired there, this terrorized man, ChongLy Thao, is a cousin of one of the priests at the Hmong-majority Episcopal congregation in the Twin Cities. Oh, and Thao is indeed a U.S. citizen. ⚓️
ICE broke into Minnesota home, dragged barely clothed man into snow
A Minnesota man told Reuters on Monday he felt fear, shame and desperation a day after ICE officers broke down his door with guns drawn, handcuffed him and dragged him into the snow wearing shorts and...
www.reuters.com
January 20, 2026 at 5:49 AM
According to Bishop Andrew Waldo, who was a priest colleague of mine in the Episcopal Diocese of MN and is now retired there, this terrorized man, ChongLy Thao, is a cousin of one of the priests at the Hmong-majority Episcopal congregation in the Twin Cities. Oh, and Thao is indeed a U.S. citizen. ⚓️
282 years ago today on Sunday, January 19, 1744, my 6th great-grandmother “Christina Krafft partook of Communion with the [Moravian] congregation for the first time, to the abiding blessing of [her heart]” in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. This is an entry in the Bethlehem congregational diary.
January 19, 2026 at 11:33 PM
282 years ago today on Sunday, January 19, 1744, my 6th great-grandmother “Christina Krafft partook of Communion with the [Moravian] congregation for the first time, to the abiding blessing of [her heart]” in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. This is an entry in the Bethlehem congregational diary.
Reposted by Neil Alan Willard
Sound up. This is beautiful, bringing me to tears and also reminding me of the promise of a new song in Psalm 40, which many Christians heard read in church yesterday. Having lived in Minnesota, I know how cold it is there. Brrr. ❄️⚓
📷: Courtney Cushing Kiernat (who noted this isn't an insurrection)
📷: Courtney Cushing Kiernat (who noted this isn't an insurrection)
January 19, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Sound up. This is beautiful, bringing me to tears and also reminding me of the promise of a new song in Psalm 40, which many Christians heard read in church yesterday. Having lived in Minnesota, I know how cold it is there. Brrr. ❄️⚓
📷: Courtney Cushing Kiernat (who noted this isn't an insurrection)
📷: Courtney Cushing Kiernat (who noted this isn't an insurrection)
Sound up. This is beautiful, bringing me to tears and also reminding me of the promise of a new song in Psalm 40, which many Christians heard read in church yesterday. Having lived in Minnesota, I know how cold it is there. Brrr. ❄️⚓
📷: Courtney Cushing Kiernat (who noted this isn't an insurrection)
📷: Courtney Cushing Kiernat (who noted this isn't an insurrection)
January 19, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Sound up. This is beautiful, bringing me to tears and also reminding me of the promise of a new song in Psalm 40, which many Christians heard read in church yesterday. Having lived in Minnesota, I know how cold it is there. Brrr. ❄️⚓
📷: Courtney Cushing Kiernat (who noted this isn't an insurrection)
📷: Courtney Cushing Kiernat (who noted this isn't an insurrection)
Reposted by Neil Alan Willard
If you live near Houston, I hope you'll consider coming to this event on Monday night to hear two friends of mine. I'll be there!
Looking forward to Monday evening at Brazos Bookstore! Read more …
January 18, 2026 at 12:56 AM
If you live near Houston, I hope you'll consider coming to this event on Monday night to hear two friends of mine. I'll be there!
Reposted by Neil Alan Willard
It’s gonna replace the Halloween blizzard
Folks, if you know any Minnesotan, you'll know that many of us will bring up Minnesota and Minnesota things at every possible opportunity. If we manage to ride out military occupation, we're going to be absolutely insufferable for the next 20 years. Think about what you're risking here.
January 19, 2026 at 12:30 AM
It’s gonna replace the Halloween blizzard
I like the raspberry sammich ones!
Some good news for Houston friends…the cookies from Paulies will still be available for order now that Paulies is no more:
www.zoeyscookiez.com
www.zoeyscookiez.com
Zoey's Cookies
www.zoeyscookiez.com
January 18, 2026 at 11:04 PM
I like the raspberry sammich ones!
If you live near Houston, I hope you'll consider coming to this event on Monday night to hear two friends of mine. I'll be there!
Looking forward to Monday evening at Brazos Bookstore! Read more …
January 18, 2026 at 12:56 AM
If you live near Houston, I hope you'll consider coming to this event on Monday night to hear two friends of mine. I'll be there!
Reposted by Neil Alan Willard
DOJ investigating whether Denmark lied on its Greenland mortgage.
January 17, 2026 at 6:23 PM
DOJ investigating whether Denmark lied on its Greenland mortgage.
Reposted by Neil Alan Willard
This is a critical point. What we're really witnessing is the *collapse* of law and order, brought about by Trump's lawless thugs. I think a lot of ordinary people intuitively understand that this is what's happening.
It is hard to explain institutional collapse to voters; videos where state actors are clearly acting in abusive ways explain themselves.
This is incredible: 81% of working class and 83% of young voters have seen video of Renee Good's killing, per new data I've obtained. Majority of working class disapproves of ICE enforcement. ICE brutality is breaking through big time.
Some thoughts on this here:
newrepublic.com/article/2052...
Some thoughts on this here:
newrepublic.com/article/2052...
January 15, 2026 at 12:43 PM
This is a critical point. What we're really witnessing is the *collapse* of law and order, brought about by Trump's lawless thugs. I think a lot of ordinary people intuitively understand that this is what's happening.
Reposted by Neil Alan Willard
The news on the radio during my commute was such a litany of chaos this morning that I turned it off and started listening to a podcast with scary and mysterious tales based on real events and tragedies because those disturbing stories are, sadly, a momentary escape from current events and violence.
I don't know about all of you, but I am finding it difficult to process Venezuela, Greenland, Minneapolis, and the Fed all at once.
January 14, 2026 at 9:40 PM
The news on the radio during my commute was such a litany of chaos this morning that I turned it off and started listening to a podcast with scary and mysterious tales based on real events and tragedies because those disturbing stories are, sadly, a momentary escape from current events and violence.
The news on the radio during my commute was such a litany of chaos this morning that I turned it off and started listening to a podcast with scary and mysterious tales based on real events and tragedies because those disturbing stories are, sadly, a momentary escape from current events and violence.
I don't know about all of you, but I am finding it difficult to process Venezuela, Greenland, Minneapolis, and the Fed all at once.
January 14, 2026 at 9:40 PM
The news on the radio during my commute was such a litany of chaos this morning that I turned it off and started listening to a podcast with scary and mysterious tales based on real events and tragedies because those disturbing stories are, sadly, a momentary escape from current events and violence.
"Their presence is terrifying medical staff . . ."
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are entering hospitals with detained individuals, health care workers in the Twin Cities report. The agents sometimes enter with warrants and sometimes without, and they are frequently present during patient care.
ICE agents appear at Twin Cities hospitals, alarming health care workers
Health care workers in the Twin Cities report that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are entering hospitals with detained individuals, leaving some medical staff terrified and concerned ...
www.mprnews.org
January 14, 2026 at 4:48 PM
"Their presence is terrifying medical staff . . ."
Reposted by Neil Alan Willard
This print of “The 38 Tears of Bishop Whipple” by the Rev. Robert Two Bulls is always within reach in my study at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston in the Lone Star State. My previous congregation was in the Twin Cities in the North Star State. ⚓️
January 14, 2026 at 1:21 AM
This print of “The 38 Tears of Bishop Whipple” by the Rev. Robert Two Bulls is always within reach in my study at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston in the Lone Star State. My previous congregation was in the Twin Cities in the North Star State. ⚓️
This print of “The 38 Tears of Bishop Whipple” by the Rev. Robert Two Bulls is always within reach in my study at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston in the Lone Star State. My previous congregation was in the Twin Cities in the North Star State. ⚓️
January 14, 2026 at 1:21 AM
This print of “The 38 Tears of Bishop Whipple” by the Rev. Robert Two Bulls is always within reach in my study at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston in the Lone Star State. My previous congregation was in the Twin Cities in the North Star State. ⚓️
Reposted by Neil Alan Willard
If 3,000 federal agents land in Minnesota, their footprint will be bigger than the 10 largest metro police departments combined.
ICE's presence in Minnesota dwarf Twin Cities' largest police forces
3,000 agents is more than the 10 largest metro police departments combined.
bit.ly
January 13, 2026 at 11:16 PM
If 3,000 federal agents land in Minnesota, their footprint will be bigger than the 10 largest metro police departments combined.
Reposted by Neil Alan Willard
These are U.S. citizens under federal law.
Tribal leaders say ICE is detaining American Indians during immigration sweeps
The Oglala Sioux Tribe is trying to locate four members detained by ICE agents in Minneapolis.
www.startribune.com
January 13, 2026 at 3:05 AM
These are U.S. citizens under federal law.