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Brian Kaylor

@briankaylor.bsky.social
4.3K followers 295 following 2.3K posts

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 publicwitness.wordandway.org

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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 44m
Good @rns.org piece by @jackjenkins.me on how DHS (sometimes) admits it has arrested people on church property even as "border czar" Tom Homan claims it hasn't happened. Despite denials, multiple incidents at churches are documented. religionnews.com/2026/09/30/t...
religionnews.com
Do federal immigration agents make arrests at churches? Depends on what day you ask.
(RNS) — Over the past year, the Trump administration has issued contradictory and, at times, seemingly false statements about whether federal agents have conducted operations at churches.
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 2h
He's done it before, but Hegseth's rewrite of the "Golden Rule" is problematic as he limits Jesus's teaching to only applying for those inside the nation's boundaries. If we were to *really* implement the Golden Rule at the Pentagon, we'd shut down Hegseth's warmongering & bombing of schools.
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
My latest on new court filings in the case of DHS spying on churches. DHS was ordered to inform a federal judge of any other potential incidents at a protected church, but DHS claims it can't actually check its records so we have no idea. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/dhs-admits...
publicwitness.wordandway.org
DHS Admits It Doesn’t Know How Many Churches It Has Spied On
A federal judge recently ordered the U.S.
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Mo Sen. Eric Schmitt is an absolute moron. He won't do it, but he owes Jack Smith a massive apology. What a disgrace!
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
@democracyforward.org sues Pentagon for records on Jennifer Hegseth's unofficial role in Department of Defense: democracyforward.org/news/press-r... Good! I've noted her attendance at Pete's prayer services & she even hosted 1 in his absence: publicwitness.wordandway.org/i/181931874/...
democracyforward.org
Democracy Forward Sues Government for Refusing to Reveal Jennifer Hegseth’s Unofficial Role at the Department of Defense
Wife of Secretary of Defense Reportedly Has “Heavy Hand” in National Defense Decisions
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
"To invoke God's name in order to justify violence or oppression is to profane that name. Nothing that disfigures human dignity can claim to be inspired by God." -Pope Leo XIV. (He's looking at you, Pete Hegseth) wordandway.org/2026/09/28/p...
wordandway.org
Pope Leo Warns: Invoking God to Justify War Is to 'Profane' His Name - Word&Way
Pope Leo XIV once again stressed that God does not promote war and called for the protection of human dignity and life, during the last day of his papal visit to France on Monday (Sept. 28).
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
For 3rd time this month, #SCOTUS blocks GOP gerrymandering in Missouri. This time they made it extra clear the effort is dead for midterm & all chaos is fault of GOP secretary of state: www.politico.com/news/2026/09... I explained the mess earlier this month for @ms.now: www.ms.now/opinion/miss...
politico.com
Supreme Court again snubs GOP gerrymander in Missouri
Justices also warned federal courts not to interfere with state decisions.
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Word&Way @wordandway.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Today’s issue of A Public Witness looks at how some Republican politicians are attacking the faith of mainline Christians and how United Methodists are pushing back against the bigotry.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
An Act Against One Church Is An Act Against All
“I believe in an America … where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all.”
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Adam Hamilton @hamilton4kansas.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Remember to be a good neighbor.
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Word&Way @wordandway.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
“We will make sure these guns can never hurt somebody again or in the future,” Word&Way’s own Beau Underwood told @mirrorindy.org. He referenced Isaiah 2:4: “And by doing that, we are living out the biblical vision of weapons being turned into plowshares.”
wordandway.org
An Indianapolis Church Turned an AR-15 Into a Garden Tool - Word&Way
A national, faith-based movement called “Guns to Gardens” has the goal of getting guns off the streets and giving people a safe way to dispose of them.
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Michelle Boorstein @michelleboorstein.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Trump yesterday: The UN are "craven hypocrites" who do nothing for persecuted Christians A few days ago: Christian refugee groups say 2026 "is on track to be the first year" that the US admitted zero Christian refugees of persecution (or any religious persecution refugees)
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Americans United for Separation of Church and State @americansunited.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
We were in court today challenging an Arkansas law that requires an edited version of the Ten Commandments be displayed in public classrooms and libraries. No matter the state, we are fighting to preserve freedom of and freedom from religion for every American. 🇺🇸
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Federal appeals court wants to force use of gerrymandered map in Missouri even though ballots have already been printed & mailed with different map: missouriindependent.com/2026/09/21/a... As I explained at @ms.now recently, this whole mess is because of Mo GOP officials: www.ms.now/opinion/miss...
ms.now
Opinion | Missouri Republicans have unleashed pure chaos on us voters ahead of the midterm elections
Brian T. Kaylor: As the midterms approach,  the Missouri district I'll vote in has changed back and forth
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Sarah Posner @sarahposner.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Latest from me @talkingpointsmemo.com: Homan Stumps for Georgia GOPers by Promoting ICE Brutality in Speech to Evangelicals talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/homan-s...
talkingpointsmemo.com
Homan Stumps for Georgia GOPers by Promoting ICE Brutality in Speech to Evangelicals
In Church, Merch, and State, Sarah Posner writes about the intersection of religion and...
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Word&Way @wordandway.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Minneapolis-based journalist and Lutheran minister @angeladenker.bsky.social will moderate two upcoming book talk events, the first with @kkdumez.bsky.social on Oct. 6 and the second with @briankaylor.bsky.social on Oct. 12. Both events are free — sign up today!
publicwitness.wordandway.org
Unpacking Christian Nationalism in the Twin Cities
Angela Denker will moderate a book talk with Kristin Du Mez and one with Brian Kaylor.
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Hegseth continues to misuse Isaiah 6:8, conscripting the verse for military recruitment. Says he's going on a "Send Me Tour" (by which he really means send you to fight his stupid war). But the verse doesn't mean what he thinks it does: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/hegseth-co...
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Trump nominates Cissie Graham Lynch (daughter of Franklin Graham) as U.S. ambassador at large for international religious freedom. Hopefully, Senate won't confirm her. But this again confirms Trump doesn't understand or respect true religious freedom. wordandway.org/2026/09/17/c...
wordandway.org
Cissie Graham Lynch, Granddaughter of Billy Graham, Tapped for Religious Freedom Ambassador - Word&Way
If approved by the Senate, Lynch would hold an office that has been unoccupied since the beginning of the second Trump administration.
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
This is alarming. Armed police officer entered a Quaker center in Philly while anti-ICE meeting was occurring. A Mennonite pastor volunteering at meeting sign-in desk escorted officer out but then that officer & another stayed & surveilled the building for 3 hours. www.inquirer.com/news/no-ice-...
inquirer.com
Anti-ICE activists question why Philly police showed up at their meeting. The department is investigating.
“I don’t know a reason that would have justified the officer walking into the premises,” a police staff inspector said.
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Hegseth invokes #ChristianNationalist myths about US history to justify his Christian Nationalist worship services. Using bad history to justify bad governance & bad theology. publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/hegseth-pr...
publicwitness.wordandway.org
Hegseth Praises Bari Weiss’s ‘60 Minutes’ at Pentagon Worship Service
Southern Baptist pastor Wesley Welch of King’s Church DC delivered a sermon on the prayers of Moses.
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Word&Way @wordandway.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
One day after the U.S. House of Representatives approved a measure that would require President Donald Trump to end the war with Iran and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie moved to impeach Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon held its “SECWAR Monthly Christian Prayer & Worship Service.”
publicwitness.wordandway.org
Hegseth Praises Bari Weiss’s ‘60 Minutes’ at Pentagon Worship Service
Southern Baptist pastor Wesley Welch of King’s Church DC delivered a sermon on the prayers of Moses.
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Missouri GOP still trying to get unconstitutional gerrymandered map approved for November: missouriindependent.com/2026/09/16/m... For background, here's my @ms.now piece on the mess: www.ms.now/opinion/miss...
missouriindependent.com
Missouri Republicans ask federal court to revive gerrymandered map, block referendum • Missouri Independent
Secretary of State Denny Hoskins wants the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to remove a redistricting referendum from the Missouri ballot.
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Word&Way @wordandway.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Today’s issue of A Public Witness features an interview with @kkdumez.bsky.social by @kennethefrantz.bsky.social about her new book “Live Laugh Love: The Secret History of White Christian Women and the World They Made.”
publicwitness.wordandway.org
Performative Submission and the Gospel of Free Market Capitalism
An interview with Kristin Kobes Du Mez on White Christian womanhood.
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Word&Way @wordandway.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Pete Hegseth used the official observance ceremony at the Pentagon on Friday to justify the ongoing war against Iran. And he repeatedly used biblical passages — from Isaiah to Psalms to Matthew — out of context as he recast the United States as a divine force sending terrorists to hell.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
Hegseth Uses 9/11 Pentagon Ceremony to Push Religious War
The head of the U.S. military — who has Crusader imagery tattooed on his body and the cover of his Bible — spent the anniversary promising divine violence.
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Word&Way @wordandway.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Such misuses of the Bible might not be as funny as when Hegseth prayed the Pulp Fiction version of Ezekiel 25:17, but what he offered on Friday is even more heretical.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
Hegseth Uses 9/11 Pentagon Ceremony to Push Religious War
The head of the U.S. military — who has Crusader imagery tattooed on his body and the cover of his Bible — spent the anniversary promising divine violence.
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
My look at how Pete Hegseth misused multiple Bible passages during 9/11 observance service at Pentagon: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/hegseth-us...
publicwitness.wordandway.org
Hegseth Uses 9/11 Pentagon Ceremony to Push Religious War
The head of the U.S. military — who has Crusader imagery tattooed on his body and the cover of his Bible — spent the anniversary promising divine violence.
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
"We must not be confused by GOP lawmakers claiming the state's supreme court justices are violating the Constitution and disenfranchising voters. Such rhetoric is like an arsonist complaining about a fire they set." www.ms.now/opinion/miss...
ms.now
Opinion | Missouri Republicans have unleashed pure chaos on us voters ahead of the midterm elections
Brian T. Kaylor: As the midterms approach,  the Missouri district I'll vote in has changed back and forth
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Jeremy Fuzy @jeremyfuzy.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
“The state GOP’s proposed map would not make the delegation more Christian, but it would make it more Republican — and more white.”
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
My latest @ms.now column on the gerrymandering mess in Missouri & who created the constitutional crisis: www.ms.now/opinion/miss...
ms.now
Opinion | Missouri Republicans have unleashed pure chaos on us voters ahead of the midterm elections
Brian T. Kaylor: As the midterms approach,  the Missouri district I'll vote in has changed back and forth
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
A Catholic theologian joined DHS’s public affairs office to help promote administration’s immigration policies: www.ncregister.com/news/pecknol... Deeply troubling but I guess not entirely surprising given how previous authoritarian regimes have been aided by theologians: amzn.to/4d8CZq0
ncregister.com
Catholic Theologian Takes Job in Trump’s Department of Homeland Security
Chad Pecknold, a longtime professor at The Catholic University of America, has begun working for the government agency that oversees immigration enforcement.
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
As he has been doing for months (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/hegseth-co...), Hegseth misused Isaiah 6:8 at Pentagon's 9/11 ceremony. You can honor military members without taking Bible out of context. But #ChristianNationalists like Hegseth make an idol out of the nation with comments like this.
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Day 2 of GOP midterm convention kicks off with MAGAchurch pastor Robert Jeffress: The Democrat [sic] Party are advocates for evil. They are advocates for sin. … And if we want God's continued blessings on our United States of America, it is imperative that on Nov. 3 we vote for God’s side!"
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
We're in constitutional crisis in Missouri because GOP Sec of State didn't follow state Constitution & forced use of unlawful map. Instead of holding him accountable, GOP lawmakers are threatening to impeach state Supreme Court justices. All in quest to gerrymander out of office a Black UMC minister
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
This man who pretended to lead a "religious liberty commission" (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/add-your-v...) is wrong on a lot of levels. But Talarico has never pretended to be a pastor. He's a seminarian but not a pastor. Talarico also knows more about Bible & religious liberty than Patrick.
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Jack Graham, a Southern Baptist megachurch pastor in Texas, opened GOP midterm convention in prayer. A longtime Trump supporter, he's clearly blind to his theological hypocrisy. He claimed they were there with "repentant hearts" but later said they pray for Trump "with thanksgiving in our hearts."
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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 09/09/2026
"No one has been arrested at a church." To be clear: DHS agents have, in fact, arrested people on church property. One of the incidents involved a pastor confronting DHS agents directly and filming them. In fact, DHS has *publicly acknowledged that this happens.* religionnews.com/2025/08/04/w...
religionnews.com
'This is domestic terror': Shaken by ICE raids, pastors rethink ministries
(RNS) — The fear of raids has pushed some congregations back to pandemic-era worship strategies.
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
BREAKING: Looks like Mo GOP appeal to #SCOTUS to try & save their gerrymandered map that was thrown out by state Supreme Court has failed. Background on the SCOTUS filings here: missouriindependent.com/2026/09/07/m...
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
GOP midterm convention schedule update includes 3 pastors listed as speakers: Jack Graham, Lorenzo Sewell, & Robert Jeffress. No surprises as all 3 are outspoken MAGAchurch pastors. Graham & Jeffress are Southern Baptists in Texas while Sewell is Black preacher in Michigan.
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
My report on attending (& speaking at) a recent conference celebrating church-state separation & 250 years of US history at Colonial Williamsburg: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/celebratin...
publicwitness.wordandway.org
Celebrating Religious Liberty at Colonial Williamsburg
I’ve often mentioned Patrick Henry in presentations about Christian Nationalism and religious liberty. But a recent conference at Colonial Williamsburg marked the first time I’ve shared the stage with...
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Happy book publication day to @robertpjones.bsky.social for Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy. Grab a copy! And check out my interview with him last week. Video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TYL... Audio here: dogma.wordandway.org/backslide-wi...
youtube.com
Backslide with Robert P. Jones
YouTube video by Brian Kaylor
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Let's be clear what Mo GOP wants. Mo Supreme Court unanimously ruled Sec of State didn't follow Mo Constitution. SoS held primary with unlawful districts. Now he wants SCOUTS to force use of unlawful districts in Nov. since he already used them. Don't reward lawlessness by top election official!
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Pentagon again conscripting Isaiah 6:8 to serve imperial military interests instead of God. They've done this meme several times & Hegseth misuses the verse in speeches. I was the first to document this trend: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/hegseth-co...
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Judge Saylor heard virtual oral arguments today to consider if DHS should be held in contempt for violating injunction by repeatedly spying on a Baptist church in Minneapolis (background on spying & injunction here: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/in-worship...). He didn't rule yet. 1/
publicwitness.wordandway.org
In Worship and in Court, Churches Respond to DHS Spying in Their Buildings
At the start of worship on Sunday morning (Aug. 16), Rev. Cody Sanders gave an announcement that’s not what he typically offers: the congregation had been one of several churches “targeted by undercov...
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Word&Way @wordandway.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
The latest episode of our Dangerous Dogma podcast features a discussion with @prri.org's @robertpjones.bsky.social about his forthcoming book "Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy" (@stmartinspress.bsky.social).
dogma.wordandway.org
Dangerous Dogma: Backslide with Robert P. Jones
This episode of Dangerous Dogma features a conversation between Word&Way Editor Brian Kaylor and Robert P. Jones, author of the forthcoming book . Jones is also the founder and president of . He p...
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Well, this story has a wild detail: www.lpm.org/news/2026-09...
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Big news: Mo GOP tried to gerrymander out of office Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (a Black UMC minister) but state Supreme Court just blocked new map from being used in November! I testified against gerrymandering effort last fall (www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAWq...).
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
During Biden admin, Sen. Hawley pushed AG Garland on if they were "cultivating sources & spies" in Catholic churches. But now that Trump admin is spying on mainline Protestant churches, Hawley is silent & refuses to comment: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/a-weaponiz...
publicwitness.wordandway.org
‘A Weaponized Bureaucracy That Chills First Amendment Activity’
Activists, mainline denominations push back against Trump administration for ‘church invasions by ICE.’
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Some updates on DHS spying on churches: defendants in Cities Church protest case cite the 'church invasions by ICE' in motion for dismissal & faith groups protected by injunction dispute DHS arguments while urging federal judge to force DHS changes: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/a-weaponiz...
publicwitness.wordandway.org
‘A Weaponized Bureaucracy That Chills First Amendment Activity’
Activists, mainline denominations push back against Trump administration for ‘church invasions by ICE.’
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Lineup for a rightwing evangelical event to held next week in conjunction with the GOP's midterm convention:
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
ICYMI: DHS Denies Violating Injunction, but Refuses to Give Evidence or Detail Extent of Church Spying publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/dhs-denies...
publicwitness.wordandway.org
DHS Denies Violating Injunction, but Refuses to Give Evidence or Detail Extent of Church Spying
In new filings in federal courts in Minnesota and Massachusetts, the U.S.
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Brian Kaylor @briankaylor.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
After spying on churches, DHS is now claiming it didn't violate a federal injunction: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/dhs-denies...
publicwitness.wordandway.org
DHS Denies Violating Injunction, But Refuses to Give Evidence or Detail Extent of Church Spying
In new filings in federal courts in Minnesota and Massachusetts, the U.S.
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