Rev. Nathan Empsall

Hosting a birthday party with 30 smallish children. Send prayers and whiskey.

During an event on Thursday, Donald Trump seemed to repeatedly struggle to keep his eyes open.

A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds found that Trump spent roughly 20 minutes battling to keep his eyes open.

New video w/ @ddiamond.bsky.social

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

It's just one more example of how little attention he pays to anything but himself. He has never been president with a Democratic Senate, so he's never paid attention to what Democrats do when they run the Senate. He might not even realize we've had Democratic Senates.

I've been rolling my eyes when Trump says Dems will repeal the filibuster the first chance, as if they had chances before. But then it hit me: This is just like his other realizations of things most already knew, i.e. Ukraine peace isn't easy or "nobody knew health care could be so complicated."

Huh... you ever notice how almost every single person on a grocery store birthday card is white?

SIGN: Release SNAP contingency funding now On November 1, 42 million Americans stand to lose their SNAP benefits. Sign our Christian petition demanding that the USDA release emergency funding now.

If you're in New Haven, please donate to Loaves and Fishes: loavesandfishesnh.com/donate/

And no matter where you are, you can sign this Christian petition to the USDA from my old friends at @faithfulamerica.bsky.social: act.faithfulamerica.org/sign/SNAP-US...

Jesus says feed the hungry.

If you support Trump not funding SNAP from the emergency SNAP fund, then you don't support Jesus. Full stop.

New Jason Isbell show announced yesterday for New Haven's fabulous @collegestmusichall.bsky.social, his first here in 10 years. Tickets went on sale 6 or 7 minutes ago.

Look, I'm not saying I now have tickets to see him three nights in a row... I'm just not saying I don't....

Trump’s Next Target: Religious Freedom | Opinion The Trump administration has used the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk as an excuse to erode Americans’ freedoms of speech and press.

Here's my latest, in Newsweek today. Trump has weaponized Charlie Kirk's tragic death to assault Americans' First Amendment freedoms of speech and press. Our feedom of religion is next - and indeed, the attack has already begun: www.newsweek.com/trumps-next-...

State troopers in riot gear just plowed into the crowd, started arresting protesters and clergy.

As New Haven't West Rock memorial proclaims, "Opposition to tyrants is obedience to God." #NoKings but Jesus!

If having a beard means you're not really a true warrior, does this mean we can tear down all the bearded Confederate statues now?

My latest, on Comey and Hegseth: "Our federal government is increasing its emphasis on loyalty to Dear Leader. In the face of this textbook fascism, we Christians need to remember the Gospel: You cannot serve two masters." nathanempsall.substack.com/p/which-mast...

Catholics must resist Trump’s ‘warrior ethos’—without deepening the battle lines How can we resist the warrior ethos? By resisting the assumption that coercion is the best way to create the world we want to see.

“I reject the logic that says that criticism of the government necessarily generates violence against it. This is gaslighting."

I love this piece about Augustine and nonviolence from Kathleen Bonnette. (Ignore the headline; it’s for all Christians, and just happens to be in a Catholic publication.)

Trump administration student debt rule change is a stealth attack on First Amendment (RNS) — A proposed rule governing which nonprofits can benefit from a loan forgiveness program gives the Trump administration the power to crack down on left-leaning groups.

Trump administration student debt rule change is a stealth attack on First Amendment: religionnews.com/2025/09/19/t...

(Side note: Assaulting freedom to seize power is even worse when you take God's name in vain to do it.)

All political violence is wrong. Abusing one tragedy and ignoring others to pretend the problem only comes from one side, as Vance and Trump insist, only heightens the danger — not just to peace but also to freedom.

Full piece: open.substack.com/pub/nathanem...

We Already Know What Radicalized Charlie Kirk’s Killer Our American culture, with its long history of violence, is already grooming today's boys to become the next Robinson or Tarrio.

"What we need is to start caring for every death, even of the people we hate... What we need is to start seeing that every person on this planet, every last one, is holy and worthy of life and love."

Read the full piece and subscribe (it's free): open.substack.com/pub/nathanem...

My latest: "We are a violent nation, awash in guns and the subconscious ideology that human life has little to no value... I don’t give a fig leaf which political wing Robinson was on, if any. Once radicalized by our culture to normalize death, this particular young man was bound to kill."

It's the worst that it's been since the last time it happened //
It's happening again right in front of our eyes //
There's updated footage, wild speculation //
Tall tales and hearsay and absolute lies

(Tyler Childers, from "A Long History of Violence")

Empathy only for those who have empathy is no empathy at all. We can't demand that the other person go first, nor can we let anyone else's cruelty take away our own basic decency.

"I have been appalled by Charlie Kirk's work and actions for many years, and by the devastating harm he caused spreading hatred in Jesus’s twisted name... I am even more appalled by his murder... Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself." nathanempsall.substack.com/p/jesus-weep...

This is a much better take than cheering for the bullets

Kirk is awful. Kirk has harmed so many people. And I am utterly sickened and bereft by his shooting, because political violence is wrong no matter who the target us. I hope he pulls through.

And they asked him, "Who is my neighbor?"

And Jesus replied, "Whoever you're hoping I won't say right now."

I highly doubt it will make anyone in MAGA think twice, anymore than Hamas's Oct 7 attack made Israel think twice about occupying Palestine. I fear it's going to enflame them even more, leading to even more of their own violence.

Political violence always make things worse. It is unequivocally wrong. And our country, both right and left, already has enough martyrs.

Pray for Charlie Kirk. I hope he will be okay.

Let's set Epstein aside for a moment. Just a moment.

Look at what Trump defines as a "hoax":

Anything unrelated to his so-called success.

If it doesn't praise him, by definition, it's a hoax.

The authoritarian cult leader at work, y'all.

Let's set Epstein aside for a moment. Just a moment.

Look at what Trump defines as a "hoax":

Anything unrelated to his so-called success.

If it doesn't praise him, by definition, it's a hoax.

The authoritarian cult leader at work, y'all.

Let's set Epstein aside for a moment. Just a moment.

Look at what Trump defines as a "hoax":

Anything unrelated to his so-called success.

If it doesn't praise him, by definition, it's a hoax.

The authoritarian cult leader at work, y'all.

Torn between love and sorrow for my Florida friends, and utter disgust at Florida itself.

Polio sucks. Do does Measles. And so do people who hate children enough to get rid of polio and measles vaccine mandates. This is not loving your neighbor.