Wow.

#poetry Tracy K. Smith, "An Old Story" "...When at last we knew how little Would survive us—how little we had mended Or built that was not now lost—something Large and old awoke. And then our singing Brought on a different manner of weather..." www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/147456...

One of my indelible memories from US television was the moving image of Jesse Jackson’s face in the crowd in Grant Park on November 4, 2008, at Obama’s victory speech. A great, great man.

You’re welcome, Most learned reverend sir, into our kingdom

For followers of @jaimehylton.bsky.social, please know that her NEW account is @shadowjaime.bsky.social. We‘re trying to gather lost followers who don’t know about the change that came through no fault of her own. She lost most of her people! Please re-follow — or follow for the first time. REPOST🙏

What’s it like to celebrate your 12th birthday in an immigrant detention center? No cake. No presents. No party. Kamilla’s parents told me they planned to buy their daughter a pack of M&Ms — among the only sweets available in the commissary — and pray they get out soon. Please read their story:

"Love is a gift that springs from an unlit spot. Resin and rue. Even when I’m in the dark I’m in the dark with you." - Alice Fulton, "Triptych for Topological Heart." #poetry www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazi...

With gratitude to @variantlit.bsky.social, a poem about one act of my grief for my aunt. You would have loved her.

Whoa.

1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken. Hundreds of kids are still detained. We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵

I just got home from a live Imani Winds concert and if you ever get the chance to hear them live, do! Absolutely amazing music . imaniwinds.com/about

Great essay.

So how about every question from the press is "When will the president apologize for his disgusting racism and also resign?" and they just keep asking that, and only that, till he does both (though I'll be fine with just the latter)?

"harming children leads to a century of suffering."

Congressman Jonathan Jackson (son of Reverend Jesse Jackson).

Even a small contribution goes a long way: www.gofundme.com/f/standing-t...

This WP article should send chills down everyone's spine. It is utterly Orwellian -- or, perhaps more to the point, exactly the sort of thing the Stasi would have done in East Germany. www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...

Consider applying to be the new editor of the German Studies Review. Applications due by this Friday, February 6: www.thegsa.org/blog/cfa-gsr...

auburnseminary.org/wheeler-fell... has just posted application info for the Wheeler Fellows program (research fellows working on trends in theological education). Deadline is March 20.

Important thread 👇 and if you haven’t read “One Long Night” by @andreapitzer.bsky.social yet, please do so. It helps people understand what they’re seeing.

NEW from me: Every morning for the past week or so, a group of ~24 clergy in Portland, Maine drive out to a business. They form a line near a door, shielding a group of mostly immigrant workers as they exit their shift. Then faith leaders stare down DHS agents. religionnews.com/2026/01/29/m...

"There are many heroes in this world, and very few of them are politicians. Our job is to get so strong and organized that the cowards will have no choice but to come along with us. The real action in politics is not in Washington. It is right where you are." Lots of truth in this essay 👇

Scholars in Chicago will look at Christianity as a moral force and a political weapon during conference on global Christian nationalism religionnews.com/2026/01/28/c...

“The one group not helping” www.popville.com/2026/01/the-...

The Ethics Unit of @aarweb.bsky.social seeks proposals on the following topics: 1. Ethics and Constant Crisis, 2. AI, Power, and Technological Governance (co-spo w/ Political Theology Unit), 3. The Family of the Future, 4. Immigration & Religious Ethics. Details: papers.aarweb.org/group/15538 #AAR

#poetry One of my favorite poems: Keith Leonard, "Statement of Teaching Philosophy": waxwingmag.org/items/issue2...

This is a terrific essay.

Minnesota CEOs speak out www.mnchamber.com/blog/open-le...

Went out yesterday and bought a 1000-piece puzzle as my snow week project.

Good Sunday morning, fellow travelers. #AlphabetChallenge #WeekCforCloseUp “I sat with my anger long enough until she told me her real name was grief.” — C. S. Lewis

There is a vigil in 45 minutes. I am still feeling sick from tear gas and not going. But at 7pm CST, whoever you are and where ever you are. Go to your street corner. Light a candle. If you are someone who prays, pray. Shine a light for Minnesota!🕯

This is sick. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/o...

"The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality." -James Baldwin, from Notes on the House of Bondage (The Nation, 1980) #everynightapoem #ofsorts

this knight: he is a good one

A friend with Project HOME in Maine is asking for urgent help. With ICE descending on neighborhoods, people are afraid to go to work—cutting off income and putting families at immediate risk of eviction. This is a solidarity fund: 100% of donations go straight to rent.

Important position announcement: the chair of the dept of "Engineering & Society" in UVA's Engineering school, can be focused on Engineering & Ethics. This is a position that many us who teach ethics at UVa care @; we'd all welcome a new colleague. Please share widely. apply.interfolio.com/172901

A 1955 Catholic Worker article, written by Dorothy Day, on the deportation of a Spanish deserter from Franco's Navy: "...it is a sad and pitiful thing to see a man fumbling for papers to prove his existence, his right to work, to eat."

Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42, post the second sentence. "In Harjo's poem, horses are always plural; never does the poem make mention of a lone horse."

Winter morning walk.

I went ahead and published this tonight, because it feels urgent.

Infuriating. When you know the history of human tragedy that led to the creation of many of the (esp regulatory) agencies in the 1st place—regulations are indeed written in blood & big business never acts ethically unless compelled—dt’s, musk’s, vought’s historic crime is that much worse. Gift link👇

NEW: In rare statement, top Catholic cardinals say U.S. foreign policy raises moral questions From me and @anthonyfaiola.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Re-upping this, please re-tweet, post on social media, forward to your friends. We are within striking distance of the goal. Help an ICE-kidnapped mother and her kids. Her lawyer has managed to get in touch with her, while her kids were told she is away for work. Please help, any donation is huge 🙏🏻

Winter walk, snow-etched leaves

I wish the national news had more stories like this.

Predawn.