The Reflecting Pool Controversy Is Absurd: Not Everything Trump Does Has to Be a Crisis

washington monument in lincoln memorial reflecting pool at dusk

One must wonder whether President Trump’s least discriminating critics have ever read the fable of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” — or at least whether, if they have, they understood that it was not an advertisement in favor of unyielding panic. There are many, many things to criticize about our 45th and 47th president, but it cannot be the case that literally everything the man does is wrong. That even his decision to clear up the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., became an occasion for condemnation, anger, and charges of presidential impropriety suggests that, eleven years into his domination of American life, some among us have yet to internalize this fact.

Before Trump decided to clean it up, the Reflecting Pool was a mess. This was not unique in recent American history. Under President Obama, the federal government spent $30 million renovating the Reflecting Pool and then, almost immediately, spent yet more money to deal with an algae outbreak. Between 2015 and 2016, further repairs were made after the eastern end was damaged during construction. And, in 2017, the pool was completely drained in response to an outbreak of parasites that proved harmful to ducks. Nine years later, when Trump announced his more substantial makeover, the Reflecting Pool needed attention once again. It was full of algae; it had several leaks that needed attention; and, in the estimation of Trump’s advisers, the basin required repainting to enhance the water’s reflective effect.

As part of a broader attempt to beautify Washington, D.C., Trump signaled his intention to take on the project and, in so doing, provoked some wild reactions. A near-endless supply of “preservationists” told the newspapers that Trump’s planned changes to the basin-coating would make the pool look like a residential swimming pool, and thereby deprive us of our “our shared cultural landscape heritage”; a series of reflexive partisans insisted wildly that the attraction was fine as it was, despite the presence of algae that had turned the pool a ghastly greenish brown; and Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, took to sharing photographs of the in-progress project, alongside captions that implied that the mere existence of a temporary construction site represented a terminal failure of planning. (Quite how Newsom squares this position with California’s ongoing high-speed rail debacle, he has never explained.) The opposition was breathless, fevered, and typically extremely silly.

The best argument made was that Trump had bypassed the usual channels before moving ahead with his plan. But, in this case, that was likely a net plus. It is not at all clear that there were any legal obstacles to the White House’s decision to ignore the usual review process, and, given that the usual reviewers are a bunch of pretentious naysayers, their involvement would most likely have served no purpose beyond slowing the restoration down. Clearly, President Trump wanted the pool to be presentable in time for America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, and, clearly, the only way to achieve this was to cut out the network of groups, societies, fellowships, and other self-appointed arbiters of taste whose implacable opposition to him was foreordained. Absent those encumbrances, Trump put himself back into his old real estate developer mode, and got the thing done posthaste.

And it looks good! Which is why, despite the predictions of disaster, the new criticism of the cavilers is that the pool now looks exactly like it used to when it was working as designed. “The Reflecting Pool is full again — and looks almost the same,” the Washington Post declared this week. Which is exactly what one would want to say about a successful restoration project, is it not? (The “nearly” in that sentence, of course, is a grudging substitute for “better.”) A monument needed fixing, and it was fixed, quickly and competently. Not every development has to be a crisis. Not every moment calls for extended debate. Not all features of American life require interrogation by postmodernist bores. Sometimes, a pool is just a pool. 

Source: The Reflecting Pool Controversy Is Absurd: Not Everything Trump Does Has to Be a Crisis | National Review

Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.
Romans 14:3

Seize Today’s Opportunities for Christ

This moment in history is not meaningless, it is merciful. Every sunrise is another opportunity for salvation and surrender. “ And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world…

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Faith And Scripture; Podcast Episode 3

Pip: If you have ever wondered whether your brain and your soul could both use the same workout, Drink of Jesus may have found the overlap. Mara: This episode covers two territories: why…

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Trump tells ‘Pod Force One’ Graham Platner is a ‘major sleaze bag,’ but James Talarico is worse

Man in suit and red striped tie speaking during a news interview

President Trump blasted the Democrats’ scandal-plagued Senate candidate Graham Platner as a “major sleaze bag” in an interview with The Post’s “Pod Force One,” but said Texas Senate candidate James Talarico is worse.  The president gave a blunt assessment of the Democrats’ top Senate contenders in an interview with The Post’s Miranda Devine in the latest episode, which is out Wednesday.

“They don’t appeal to anybody,” he said of Democratic candidates, calling them by his new nickname: “The Dumocrats.”  He expressed astonishment that Platner is beating Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the polls in their Maine Senate matchup. The embattled Democrat holds a 7.8% edge over Collins, according to the latest RealClearPolitics polling average.

“He’s a major sleaze bag. I mean, you look at him, you can’t imagine that, but yet he’s up in the polls against Susan Collins,” Trump said. Still, he expressed optimism about Collins, whom he’s clashed with in the past. “But she’s always down in the polls, and she survives.”

Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, are standing by Platner even after a deluge of recent reports on the candidate’s racy text messages with other women while he was married.

Platner met with party officials behind closed doors in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, slipping in and out of a back entrance to avoid questions from the media.

Meanwhile, Trump has even harsher words for Talarico, who is running against state Attorney General Ken Paxton for John Cornyn’s Texas Senate seat. Paxton beat Cornyn for the GOP nomination after receiving Trump’s endorsement.

Source: Exclusive | Trump tells ‘Pod Force One’ Graham Platner is a ‘major sleaze bag,’ but James Talarico is worse

For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.
Hebrews 3:4

1 Peter 1:6–7

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it…

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1 Timothy 1:13-15

Though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that…

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Psalm 1:1–3

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;  but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on…

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James 1:14–15

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings…

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Galatians 6:7

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. This reminds us that our choices have consequences. God is not fooled by outward…

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Proverbs 13:20

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. This reminds us that the people we spend time with have a powerful influence on…

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1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals. We can see here that Paul gives a powerful warning: the people and influences we allow into our lives can shape our…

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Ephesians 4:29

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.…

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Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. This verse reminds us that our words carry tremendous power. That…

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Proverbs 23:7

For he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. This verse reminds us that our thoughts shape…

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Matthew 6:22

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, In this verse Jesus teaches that what we…

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Luke 6:45

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart…

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Because They Are Above us All: Jill Biden on Hunter pardon: “We just could not let our son go to jail” under Trump’s DOJ

Middle-aged man in a blue blazer and light gray shirt standing outside with autumn trees in the background

Jill Biden said she supported Joe Biden’s decision to pardon their son, Hunter, because they couldn’t let him go to jail under President Trump.  Joe Biden had repeatedly pledged not to pardon his son, but reversed course at the end of his presidency.  “And then the Justice Department changed. And I think that the process was not fair to Hunter,” Jill Biden told CBS News Sunday Morning’s Rita Braver in an interview airing Sunday on CBS. “When Trump was elected, things changed, and we knew that he would target Hunter. And we just could not let our son go to jail on a charge that no one would go, I mean, no one has ever gone to jail for.” Joe Biden repeatedly said he wouldn’t pardon his son, who was convicted in June 2024 of three separate felony charges related to his purchase of a revolver in 2018 when he was battling a drug addiction, which he lied about on paperwork to obtain the gun.

Hunter Biden also pleaded guilty to nine tax evasion charges in a separate case in September 2024. The elder Biden’s decision to pardon his son drew bipartisan criticism. When asked by Braver if she urged her husband to pardon Hunter Biden, Jill Biden said: “I truly supported it. I wanted him to pardon Hunter at that point, and I agreed with Joe.” Asked why Biden also preemptively pardoned several other family members before he left office, Jill Biden said: “I suppose for the same reason that he felt that they would be targeted.”  Jill Biden talked to Braver about the election, her husband’s 2024 debate performance, and her new book, “View from the East Wing: A Memoir.” 

Source: Jill Biden on Hunter pardon: “We just could not let our son go to jail” under Trump’s DOJ – CBS Atlanta

By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
Hebrews 11:11

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Trump tells ‘Pod Force One’ Graham Platner is a ‘major sleaze bag,’ but James Talarico is worse

President Trump blasted the Democrats’ scandal-plagued Senate candidate Graham Platner as a “major sleaze bag” in an interview with The Post’s “Pod Force One,” but said Texas Senate candidate James Talarico is worse.  The president gave a blunt assessment of the Democrats’ top Senate contenders in an interview with The Post’s Miranda Devine in the…

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China fueling anti-data center sentiment across US: Trump admin

server rack in modern data center

The Trump administration and “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary claimed anti-data center sentiments across the US are being fueled by a Chinese propaganda campaign. O’Leary — whose 40,000-acre data center plans outside Salt Lake City have been met with protests — claimed in a Monday video that “nefarious accounts out of the country” tied to China were spreading misinformation about his project as part of a coordinated attack on American AI infrastructure. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum agreed during a Tuesday appearance on Fox Business.

Source: China fueling anti-data center sentiment across US: Trump admin

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2 Peter 3:8

Raccoon tests positive for rabies after attacking dog in metro Atlanta

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Pastor Convicted for Preaching John 3:16 Outside Hospital

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US has eliminated hundreds of ISIS militants in Nigeria: Hegseth

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Ecclesiastes 3:1

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Lynx Caught on Video in Northern Minnesota

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China fueling anti-data center sentiment across US: Trump admin

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California veteran known for pro-Trump display outside his home dies after assault

man in blue crew neck t shirt standing near american flags

A southern California man has died after an assault last week in front of his San Diego area home, which was well known for its extensive collection of US flags and signs supporting Donald Trump. Authorities confirmed on Monday that Kerry Sheron, a 69-year-old US army veteran, died days after he was attacked on Wednesday outside his home in Escondido. Police have arrested Thomas Butler, a 32-year-old who media outlets have identified as a navy veteran, on multiple charges including attempted murder, elder abuse and battery.

Officers were called to the street where Sheron lived for a reported assault on the afternoon of 20 May and came upon a badly injured Sheron as well as a bystander who was injured after intervening, according to a report from Military.com. Police arrested Butler a short time later after searching the area. Ross Garcia, a deputy district attorney, said the violence against Sheron was unprovoked, CBS8 reported. “It was a single punch to the jaw. The victim then falls to the floor, and there are subsequent hits to the victim’s head area, requiring the victim to be transported to the hospital,” Garcia said. Law enforcement officials have told media the motive is still under investigation but that investigators do not yet have information suggesting the incident was politically motivated. Sheron’s family has described it as a “brutal and unprovoked attack”.

The incident has sparked outrage, and Sheron’s wife and some public officials have suggested it was a result of his political beliefs. Brian Jones, California’s senate minority leader from San Diego, called Sheron’s death “unconscionable” and said he was “ruthlessly murdered” because of his support “freedom, patriotism, and our president”. “It was callous and it was evil. To kill an elderly man over his political beliefs is not only heartbreaking, it is un-American to its core,” Jones said in a statement. The San Diego district attorney’s office said that Butler will return to court on 3 June and is currently in custody without bail.

Source: California veteran known for pro-Trump display outside his home dies after assault | California | The Guardian

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12

Hosea 4:6

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God’s…

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Trump says U.S. has killed Islamic State leader in Nigeria

four soldiers carrying rifles near helicopter under blue sky

President Trump announced Friday evening that U.S. and Nigerian military forces had killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a leader of the Islamic State group, in a “meticulously planned and very complex mission.” Mr. Trump described al-Minuki as the Islamic State’s second-in-command globally and “the most active terrorist in the world.”  “He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. “With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished.” The Nigerian president’s office also confirmed the operation, and said that “early assessments confirm the elimination” of al-Minuki.

“Several of his lieutenants” were also killed, the office said.  The operation took place at al-Minuki’s compound on Lake Chad Basin, the Nigerian president’s office said. Nigeria’s defense department described it as a “meticulously planned and highly coordinated counterterrorism operation.”   A native of Nigeria, al-Minuki was described by the U.S. State Department in 2023 as a leader of the Islamic State, or ISIS, in Africa’s Sahel region. At the time, he served as a senior official in one of the Islamic State’s General Directorate of Provinces offices, which “provide operational guidance and funding around the world,” according to the State Department.

Source: Trump says U.S. has killed Islamic State leader in Nigeria – CBS News

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16:26

The News Part 2

Dear Heavenly Father, as I enter this day please give me the words that I need to share who you are and help me present your love to all…

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Daily Bread; Psalm 91:4

Daily Verse He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. Psalm 91:4 ESV Refuge: shelter…

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The News Part 1

Dear Heavenly Father, as this is read give understanding and conviction to those reading this. May there be understanding where there needs to be understanding and conviction where there…

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The Outlook for Immigration Policy

travelers with luggage at paros ferry port

The Administration has taken sweeping actions to reduce both legal and illegal entry into the US, driving sharp declines in encounters at the US border and inflows of authorized immigrants. However, labor shortages in key sectors may influence the direction of policy moving forward.

Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead®

  • The Administration’s actions have faced significant legal uncertainty, but courts have generally allowed many core elements of the Administration’s agenda to proceed while the challenges are adjudicated.
  • Data indicate that both legal and illegal immigration decreased in 2025. Many stakeholders have raised concerns about labor shortages in key sectors and enrollment of international students at US universities.
  • These trends may influence policy at the margins, but in response the Administration may pursue targeted changes rather than broad reforms of its approach.
  • Compliance risk and operational uncertainty will remain elevated for employers amid shifting regulatory requirements, court decisions, and changing labor force needs.
  • The direction of policy may be increasingly tied to broader economic conditions amid slowing job growth and global economic uncertainty.

Uncertain Expectations

The President made reshaping US immigration policy a core pillar of his first Administration, focusing on limiting both legal and illegal immigration. However, as the President prepared to start his second term in 2025, significant uncertainty surrounded policy the Administration would pursue and what impacts it would have on immigration flows. Analyzing the Administration’s actions since the start of President Trump’s second term provides insights into how this administration approaches immigration policy and what actions it may take in the future.

Pillars of the Administration’s Immigration Policy

On Inauguration Day in 2025, the President issued more than a dozen Executive Orders and Presidential Memoranda related to immigration, some restoring policies from his first term or rescinding Biden Administration orders and others introducing new policies.

Border Security & Enforcement

The President declared a national emergency at the southern border and directed the Defense Department to assign the US Northern Command to “seal the borders and maintain [US] sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security.” The Administration also began transporting some deportees to countries other than their countries of origin, so called “third country deportations.”

An Inauguration Day Executive Order directed DHS to expand the use of expedited removal processes for those entering the US unlawfully “to the fullest extent authorized by Congress,” which allows the individual to be removed without a hearing or other review of the determination that they should be removed. Litigation challenging this action is ongoing. The President also issued a Proclamation in March 2025 invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to fast-track the deportation of individuals allegedly affiliated with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Litigation regarding this use of the Alien Enemies Act is ongoing. In January 2025 the President signed the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants arrested or charged with theft-related crimes, including burglary, larceny, and shoplifting or any crime that results in the death or serious bodily injury of another person.

In June 2025, the President issued an Executive Order restricting nationals from 19 countries from entering the US, echoing a similar policy pursued in the President’s first term. In January 2026, the Administration additionally suspended the approval of immigrant visas (but not other types of visas) for people from 75 countries, arguing that it aims to ensure individuals from “high-risk countries do not utilize welfare in the United States.” By some estimates, the measure will block about half of all legal immigration to the US. This latest measure is currently being challenged in the Southern District of New York.

The Administration has also launched large-scale and controversial immigration law enforcement operations in several US cities. These deployments have spawned lawsuits from a range of parties, including state and local officials, advocacy organizations, and individuals. Proposed reforms to ICE and its operations have also led to the ongoing partial government shutdown. In February, an Executive Order directed agencies to identify Federally-funded programs that may provide public benefits to unlawfully present individuals and strengthen eligibility verification. The Administration has also targeted “sanctuary cities,” which limit cooperation between local law enforcement and Federal immigration authorities. In addition, the President has sought to end birthright citizenship for those born to parents who are present in the US illegally. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case April 1.

Source: Policy Backgrounder: The Outlook for Immigration Policy

I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue.
Psalm 66:17

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Judge Apologizes to Alleged WHCD Attacker for Treatment in Jail

Judge in black robe reviewing paperwork in a courtroom with observers behind

Judge Apologizes to Alleged WHCD Attacker for Treatment in Jail Craig Hudson for The Washington Post via Getty Images ELIZABETH WEIBEL4 May 20261,670 2:03 A judge issued an apology to Cole Tomas Allen, the alleged White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner attacker, for how he has been treated while being held in jail. During a hearing on Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui expressed his apologies to Allen, who has been “held in the safe cell,” according to ABC7 News. Faruqui reportedly said the safe cell was “tantamount to solitary confinement.”

The judge also gave the Washington, DC, Department of Corrections a deadline of Tuesday “to notify when the jail’s housing board will” make a decision regarding “which section of the jail” Allen will be placed in, according to the outlet. Faruqui’s apology to Allen comes after Allen’s attorneys said in court filings that Allen “was placed on suicide watch shortly after arriving at the D.C. jail.” Due to Allen being placed on suicide watch, he was put in “what’s known as a ‘safe cell,’ a padded room with constant lighting and 24-hour lockdown conditions,” according to the outlet.

Source: Judge Apologizes to Alleged WHCD Attacker for Treatment in Jail

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
1 John 4:20

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Secret Service shoots armed man near White House; as Trump holds business event inside

the white house in autumn

Secret Service officers engaged an armed man near the White House on Monday in what turned into a shootout that left the suspect and a juvenile bystander injured, according to the agency. The incident unfolded a few blocks south of the White House, along the National Mall and near the Washington Monument, when plainclothes agents on patrol “identified a suspicious individual that appeared to have a firearm,” Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said during a press briefing.

After spotting the “visual print of a firearm” on the suspect, the plainclothes agents called in support from uniformed Secret Service police. 

“Upon making contact, that individual fled briefly on foot, withdrew a firearm and fired in the direction of our agents and officers,” Quinn said. 

Secret Service officers returned fire and struck the suspect, who was transported to a local hospital.  

Source: Secret Service shoots armed man near White House — as Trump holds business event inside

As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
Psalm 18:30

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Man arrested at Trump’s Miami golf club for disorderly conduct, Secret Service says

aerial view of golf course in hilton head

A man was arrested Saturday at President Trump’s Doral National Golf Club just outside of Miami after an alleged disturbance, the U.S. Secret Service said. Mr. Trump was not at the club at the time, Secret Service said. According to Secret Service Miami acting special agent in charge Michael Townsend, a man approached a security area at the golf club at around 4:15 p.m. He then became “disruptive and failed to comply with lawful orders,” Townsend said in a statement. 

The man “made physical contact with a member of the Secret Service and was taken into custody without further incident,” he said. The man, who was not immediately identified, was arrested by the Doral Police Department and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting without violence, Townsend said. “At no point did this situation impact the established security posture for the President’s visit to Trump Doral National Golf Club by Secret Service,” Townsend said. The alleged incident occurred one week after shots were fired during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., and Mr. Trump was rushed off the dais. A Secret Service agent was hit by a round but was protected by a bulletproof vest. The suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president. 

Source: Man arrested at Trump’s Miami golf club for disorderly conduct, Secret Service says – CBS News

Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Luke 12:3

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Obama is slammed for by X commentators while speaking out on WHCD shooting

President Obama speaking at a podium with presidential seal and audience behind

Former US President Barack Obama has spoken out on X about the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, condemning “political violence”. He said, “Although we don’t yet have the details about the motives behind last night’s shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner, it’s incumbent upon all us to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy.” Obama continued in his post to praise the Secret Service Agents for their “courage and sacrifice.” “It’s also a sobering reminder of the courage and sacrifice that U.S. Secret Service Agents show every day. I’m grateful to them – and thankful that the agent who was shot is going to be okay.”

Source: Obama is slammed for by X commentators while speaking out on WHCD shooting | Sky News Australia

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
Psalm 133:1

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Shots fired at White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Trump evacuated

Newsroom control room with multiple monitors showing breaking news about shots fired near White House

Gunfire erupted at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday night — with President Trump and first lady Melania dramatically evacuated less than 30 minutes after making their grand entrance. Harrowing footage from the annual glitzy gala showed at least five shots ringing out from the lobby of the Washington Hilton, as more than 2,000 guests — including journalists and Trump officials — scrambled under tables for cover. Eyewitnesses told The Post at least four shots went off inside the Washington Hilton.

Source: Shots fired at White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Trump evacuated

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.”
Luke 1:30-31

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Trump DOJ report reveals Biden targeted pro-life Americans unfairly

mysterious man in black coat with hat and sunglasses

I founded and built the largest grassroots movement in the history of the pro-life cause: 40 Days for Life. During its first decade, I mobilized more than 2,000 leaders and 750,000 volunteers in peaceful prayer outside abortion facilities across all 50 states and dozens of other countries. These, and others like them, are exactly the people the Biden Justice Department decided to hunt and criminalize. In early April, President Donald Trump DOJ’s Weaponization Working Group released an explosive 882-page report built on more than 700,000 internal records.

It confirms what pro-life Americans suspected all along: The Justice Department of the United States worked hand-in-hand with the National Abortion Federation, Planned Parenthood, and the Feminist Majority Foundation to spy on, build secret files against and prosecute peaceful pro-life citizens. Here is the stark reality the report lays out. When pro-life Americans were charged under the law, the Biden DOJ asked judges to send them to prison for more than twice as long as the people who firebombed and vandalized pregnancy centers and churches. Fifteen pro-lifers were prosecuted for every pro-abortion offender. A grandmother praying her rosary on a sidewalk was treated as more dangerous to the country than an arsonist throwing a firebomb through the window of a pregnancy center.

Source: Trump DOJ report reveals Biden targeted pro-life Americans unfairly | Fox News

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

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All The Ways China and Russia May Be Aiding Iran Against The U.S.

Two men in suits, embracing in front of Chinese and Russian flags, smiling at each other

KEY FACTS:

  • Both the New York Times and CNN reported in the last week that China was preparing to ship new air defense systems to Iran, citing sources familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments.
  • These would include new shoulder-fired antiaircraft missiles, according to both reports, similar to the device President Donald Trump said Iranians used to shoot down an F-15 fighter jet earlier in April.
  • When asked by reporters about reports of China sending the weapons, the president said Saturday that “if China does that, China will have big problems, OK?” The Chinese government denied to CNN and the Times it intends to send weapons to Iran.
  • Russia, meanwhile, has reportedly supplied Iran with military intelligence, including satellite images of U.S. bases in the Middle East before they were targeted by strikes, according to Ukrainian intelligence assessments reported by Reuters last week.
  • Speaking to a British podcast after the Ukrainian intelligence was made public, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he did not receive a reaction from the U.S., adding, “the problem is they trust Putin.”

POSSIBLE PAYMENTS FOR MOVING THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ

There have been unverified reports that Iran has been charging fees to allow ships to pass through the strait since mid-March. Among the slow trickle of foreign ships have been able to travel safely through it: Those owned by China and Russia. China, India, Pakistan and the Philippines, according to the BBC, have gone through the passage, and on Friday a Russian-flagged oil tanker made it through apparently without any difficulty. Iran has signalled it wants to charge ships tolls using cryptocurrency to use the strait in the future, with a spokesperson for the country’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union telling the Wall Street Journal last week this could be a tariff of $1 per barrel. On Sunday, Trump threatened to interdict any ships in international waters that paid a toll to Iran, raging in a Truth Social post “no one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.”

Source: All The Ways China and Russia May Be Aiding Iran Against The U.S.

Trump says U.S. will blockade Strait of Hormuz and intercept ships that paid tolls to Iran

scenic maritime traffic on bosporus at sunset

President Trump said on Sunday that the U.S. Navy will begin blockading ships from entering or exiting the Strait of Hormuz and intercept vessels that have paid tolls to Iran, after marathon talks in Pakistan failed to yield an agreement to end the war. “Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” the president said in a post on Truth Social on Sunday morning.  Mr. Trump also said he has instructed the Navy to “seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran,” and that the U.S. would begin “destroying the mines the Iranians laid in the Straits.” 

“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!” he added.  At least two vessels that have traversed the strait have paid Iran fees in Chinese yuan to guarantee safe passage, analysts from Lloyd’s List Intelligence said in a recent report. Analysts wrote that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps “has imposed a de facto ‘toll booth’ regime in the Strait of Hormuz, requiring vessels to submit full documentation, obtain clearance codes and accept IRGC-escorted passage through a single controlled corridor.” Iran has indicated that it might seek to impose a toll on all ships passing through the strait under a long-term peace deal.

Source: Trump says U.S. will blockade Strait of Hormuz and intercept ships that paid tolls to Iran – CBS News

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

Guest Shuts Down Bill Maher’s Attempt to Trash Operation Epic Fury

woman s palm with written message

Bill Maher missed the target when trying to cast Operation Epic Fury as a disaster last night, which got shut down by guest Douglas Murray, who outlined how this military action was a tremendous strategic success. Now, what’s the off-ramp here? That’s a legitimate question, as the Trump White House has all but said the military objectives behind Epic Fury have been met, more or less: 

Source: Guest Shuts Down Bill Maher’s Attempt to Trash Operation Epic Fury

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8

Justice Department says it has prosecuted $500 million in healthcare, COVID fraud claims in 3 states

hands in handcuffs holding rolls of money

Article Dig Deeper The Justice Department said this week that it has wrapped up health care fraud investigations in three states which had cost Americans over $500 million among the respective parties. The announcement comes the same week that the Justice Department created its National Fraud Enforcement Division, which is a major step in the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on misuse of public funds. The Justice Department said it has finished its healthcare fraud investigations in California, Florida and Nevada and secured either guilty pleas, settlements or sentences.

“Thanks to the leadership of President Donald Trump, the department, working closely with the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, is supercharging efforts to take down every fraudster and bring them to justice,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said. “In one day, the Department prosecuted the theft of a half-billion in taxpayer dollars. All those ripping off the American people are on notice.” The largest haul came from California, where a scheme defrauded American consumers of $269.1 million, according to the Daily Signal. Paul Randall, 66, of Orange, pleaded guilty this week for his role in the pharmacy plot. Two others pleaded guilty in the scheme in 2024 and 2025.

Source: Justice Department says it has prosecuted $500 million in healthcare, COVID fraud claims in 3 states | Just The News

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

Trump removes US Attorney General Pam Bondi

Newsroom with staff discussing a breaking news headline stating 'Pam Bondi Fired' on screens.

US President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi – a longtime ally and fierce defender of his administration – from her post as America’s top law enforcement officer. Trump praised her in a post on Truth Social and said she would be “transitioning” to a role in the private sector. Bondi’s time leading the justice department was often overshadowed by its handling of the release of files relating to Jeffrey Epstein and its investigation into the convicted sex offender. She is the second Trump administration official in recent weeks to be cut from her post, after Kristi Noem was ousted as homeland security chief in March.

Bondi will be replaced by her former deputy, Todd Blanche. Bondi said she would be “working tirelessly” to transfer her work to Blanche, adding that the job had “been the honour” of a lifetime. She added that in her new private sector position – which she did not identify – she would “continue fighting for President Trump and this administration”. The announcement comes less than two months after a combative congressional hearing in which Bondi was peppered with questions from lawmakers – at times descending into shouting matches in which she called one Democrat a “washed-up loser”. As recently as Thursday morning, Trump was defending Bondi, saying: “She is a wonderful person and she is doing a good job.” But hours later, Trump confirmed her departure on Truth Social, saying that her new private sector role would be “announced at a date in the near future”.

Source: Trump removes US Attorney General Pam Bondi

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
John 15:13

Recent Abortion News (April 8-15, 2026)

Here’s a concise overview of the main abortion-related developments from the past seven days. Activity focused on medication abortion access (especially mifepristone by mail), federal enforcement…

Hegseth ousts Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George

historic wwii tank at normandy in france

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asked Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George to step down and take immediate retirement, sources familiar with the decision told CBS News.  One of the sources said Hegseth wants someone in the role who will implement President Trump and Hegseth’s vision for the Army.  Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement that George “will be retiring from his position as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army effective immediately. The Department of War is grateful for General George’s decades of service to our nation. We wish him well in his retirement.”

A senior Defense Department official told CBS News, “We are grateful for his service, but it was time for a leadership change in the Army.”  George previously served as the senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin from 2021 to 2022, during the Biden administration, after decades of service. A career infantry officer and West Point graduate, George first served in the first Gulf War and the more recent conflicts of Iraq and Afghanistan.  The Army chief of staff typically serves a four-year term. George was nominated for the position by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2023, meaning he would typically have held the position until 2027. 

Source: Hegseth ousts Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George – CBS Miami

Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:17-18

Iran announces new strikes on U.S., Israeli targets hours ahead of Trump speech as he threatens to pull U.S. out of NATO

Busy newsroom with journalists working while a large screen displays BREAKING NEWS: IRAN.

What to know about the Iran war today: President Trump will deliver an update on the Iran war Wednesday night after saying he expects to end U.S. operations in two to three weeks. Mr. Trump is also expected to say that the U.S. military is meeting or exceeding its operational benchmarks, a White House official told CBS News. Iran announced a new wave of strikes on U.S. and Israeli targets hours ahead of Mr. Trump’s remarks.

Energy and stock markets reacted positively to Mr. Trump’s remarks about the war, with oil falling back below $100 per barrel despite Iran’s threat to target U.S. tech companies and warnings that leaving the Strait of Hormuz under Tehran’s control could cause lingering pain for the global economy. Mr. Trump has told Britain’s Telegraph newspaper he could attempt to pull the U.S. out of the transatlantic NATO alliance it’s led for more than seven decades, as he vents frustration at America’s closest allies for declining to join the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Mr. Trump is expected to criticize NATO in his prime-time address, a source told CBS News. 

Source: Live Updates: Iran announces new strikes on U.S., Israeli targets hours ahead of Trump speech as he threatens to pull U.S. out of NATO

But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Galatians 3:22

Supreme Court to hear arguments over Trump’s birthright citizenship order today

The U.S. Supreme Court building and American flag under a dramatic sunset sky.

Washington — The Supreme Court will convene for arguments Wednesday to consider the legality of President Trump’s executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship. The question in the case, known as Trump v. Barbara, is whether the president’s directive complies with the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause and federal immigration law enacted in 1952. Mr. Trump issued the executive order on the first day of his second term as part of his plans for a sweeping immigration crackdown, but it has not taken effect because of decisions from lower courts finding it is likely unlawful. The White House’s official schedule for Wednesday says Mr. Trump will personally attend the arguments, which, if he follows through, would make him the first sitting president on record to do so.

The president previously said he wanted to attend the oral arguments when the Supreme Court was considering a challenge to his sweeping tariffs in November, but later backed down, writing, “I do not want to distract from the importance of this Decision.” In the lead-up to arguments, Mr. Trump has taken to social media to defend his plan and attacked the courts as “stupid.” In a post to Truth Social in late February, the president claimed the Supreme Court “will find a way to come to the wrong conclusion” in the case.

Source: Supreme Court to hear arguments over Trump’s birthright citizenship order today – CBS News

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:12

Ireland Out of Gas

Things have been dicey for a while on the Emerald Isle. But great googly moogly, do they look just awful right now. Mass protests have broken out across…

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Shocked Trump reacts to Kristi Noem’s cross-dressing husband after Daily Mail blew lid on national security scandal

drag queen putting on a black dress

Donald Trump was stunned to learn that Kristi Noem’s husband is a secret cross-dresser who experts say could have compromised national security, the President revealed in an exclusive phone interview with the Daily Mail on Tuesday. The Daily Mail revealed that the ex-DHS Secretary’s husband Bryon Noem, 56, sent compromising pictures of himself wearing fake breasts in tight clothing to fetish porn models online.  A spokesperson for Noem, 54, claimed that the family was ‘blindsided’ by Bryon’s cross-dressing history – adding that his wife of 34 years is ‘devastated.’ 

The Daily Mail called Trump to field his reaction just weeks after he fired Kristi as the Secretary of Homeland Security following bipartisan backlash over the agency’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics and scrutiny of a controversial $220 million advertising campaign that wasn’t approved by the President.  The President told the Daily Mail he was surprised to hear the Noem family did not deny the shocking report into Bryon’s lewd online behavior.  ‘They confirmed it? Wow, well, I feel badly for the family if that’s the case, that’s too bad,’ Trump said in a phone call. ‘I haven’t seen anything. I don’t know anything about it. That’s too bad, but I just know nothing about it,’ Trump added. Bryon sent his secret roster of online acquaintances at least $25,000 via Cash App and PayPal. 

Source: Shocked Trump reacts to Kristi Noem’s cross-dressing husband after Daily Mail blew lid on national security scandal | Daily Mail Online

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”
John 11:40

JD Vance says aliens are ‘demons’ and details obsession with UFOs

Large saucer-shaped UFO with blue and purple lights hovering over New York City's illuminated skyline.

JD Vance says aliens are ‘demons’ and details obsession with UFOs Vice-president promises ‘to get to the bottom of’ reports of US government files about unidentified flying objects Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Richard Luscombe Tue 31 Mar 2026 00.29 AEDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google JD Vance, the vice-president of the United States, said this weekend that he considers aliens to be “demons”. With the war in Iran continuing, petrol and grocery prices soaring, and chaos continuing at US airports as a partial government shutdown endures, Vance appeared on the conservative Benny Show podcast, released on Saturday, to promise that he would spend time looking into what he called his “obsession” with UFOs and extraterrestrial visitors.

Johnson, who bills his show as the place for “cutting, behind-the-scenes insight into the global conflict for freedom”, wondered if Vance, who has been noticeably quiet about Donald Trump’s war in the Middle East that he is said to oppose, had yet looked at any of the files about unidentified flying objects – known these days as unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) – which the president has promised to release. Is the truth out there? US registers aliens.gov as Trump pledges UFO files release Read more “I actually haven’t,” Vance replied, mustering significantly more enthusiasm than for any previous question about the US-Israel military strikes on Iran. “I have not been able to spend enough time on this, but I am going to. Trust me, I’m obsessed with this.”

Source: JD Vance says aliens are ‘demons’ and details obsession with UFOs | JD Vance | The Guardian

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Hebrews 6:10

TSA employees receive back pay after Trump’s executive order

view of people walking in the airport hallway

TSA employees receive back pay after Trump’s executive order Airport wait times appear to be shorter as workers received back pay for two whole paychecks Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Chris Stein in Washington Tue 31 Mar 2026 07.53 AEDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued its employees back pay on Monday, after Donald Trump signed an order for them to be paid even as a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security drags on, with no end in sight.

The paychecks appear to have relieved severe congestion at airport TSA checkpoints, which resulted in hours-long lines at several major air hubs over the past two weeks but brought Congress no closer to resolving the standoff over the the DHS’s budget. “Most TSA employees received a retroactive paycheck today that included at least two full paychecks,” said Lauren Bis, the acting assistant secretary of public affairs at the DHS. She noted the agency was “working aggressively” to send a third half-paycheck that employees are owed. US reopens embassy in Venezuela in significant thawing of relations Read more “TSA officers are grateful to President Trump and Secretary [Markwayne] Mullin for their leadership to put money back into the pockets of TSA employees who worked without pay during the ongoing Democrat DHS shutdown. Working without pay forced more than 500 officers to leave TSA and thousands were forced to call out,” she said.

Source: TSA employees receive back pay after Trump’s executive order | Trump administration | The Guardian

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1:8

Democrats decry ‘smear’ as Trump FBI pushes for release of Eric Swalwell file

detectives in tilt shift lens

The Trump administration has reportedly been pushing to release records from an FBI investigation related to Eric Swalwell and alleged links to a Chinese agent as the Democratic congressman makes gains in the California governor’s race. The Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing “three people familiar with the effort”, that the FBI director, Kash Patel, is pushing to release the files, even though there is no public evidence of wrongdoing on Swalwell’s part.

The records stem from a decade-old investigation into a suspected spy who had developed relationships with US politicians and assisted Swalwell with fundraising. An FBI official previously said Swalwell was cooperative with the investigation and was not suspected of wrongdoing. He cut off contact with the woman after speaking to the FBI. The profile of Swalwell, an outspoken critic of Donald Trump who served as a congressional manager during the president’s second impeachment trial, has risen as the contest for California governor takes shape. The field of candidates to replace Gavin Newsom is crowded, with at least eight Democrats, including Swalwell, and two Republicans.

Source: Democrats decry ‘smear’ as Trump FBI pushes for release of Eric Swalwell file | Democrats | The Guardian

So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
Hebrews 9:28

Trump administration sues Minnesota for allowing trans athletes in girls’ sports

woman in blue and white basketball jersey holding brown basketball

The US Department of Justice sued Minnesota’s education department and the state’s school athletics body on Monday for allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports. In a lawsuit, the justice department claims that by making female student athletes compete against transgender girls, as well as share locker rooms and bathrooms with them, Minnesota is violating Title IX – the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination for any programs that receive federal funding. “Minnesota’s policies and practices create unfair competition, deny girls equal educational opportunities, and expose girls to a hostile educational environment with heightened risks of physical injury and psychological harm,” the justice department argues in the suit filed on Monday. Minnesota has fought against the Trump administration’s efforts to remove transgender athletes from girls’ sports.

Source: Trump administration sues Minnesota for allowing trans athletes in girls’ sports | Trump administration | The Guardian

The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

Russian Oil Poised To Flood World Markets As Trump Admin Lifts Sanctions

silhouette of oil tanker at sunset on pacific ocean

The U.S. began Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Khamanei and striking key military locations in the Islamic Republic. Iran’s retaliatory strikes caused tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to plummet, dramatically increasing prices and prompting the Trump administration to temporarily lift Russian oil sanctions. The U.S. Department of the Treasury gave a temporary 30-day waiver on Russian oil sanctions March 5 to allow for Indian refineries to purchase Russian crude oil already in transit on the sea. The U.S. Treasury announced on March 12 the temporary tariff suspension would apply to all countries until April 5.

Source: Russian Oil Poised To Flood World Markets As Trump Admin Lifts Sanctions | CDN

Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
Psalm 73:25

News From Chicago

Breaking News from around Chicago 2 men shot and killed in Greater Grand Crossing Around 11:20 a.m., Chicago police said a group of give men approached two other men…

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Why Many Cuban Exiles Support Trump and the Extreme Right?

red and white the north face baseball cap

In the heart of Miami’s Little Havana, the echoes of a painful past still shape the political beliefs of a fanatically loyal voting bloc.

Having lived through the trauma of a socialist revolution that stripped some of them of property, freedom, and homeland, many see any hint of leftist ideology as anathema. While Democrats promote social programs and progressive policies… 

Source: Why Many Cuban Exiles Support Trump and the Extreme Right? – Havana Times

Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.
Luke 6:30

John Fetterman backs Trump administration in push to root out Medicaid fraud

close up shot of an idea text on a brown envelope

Democrat Senator John Fetterman has voiced strong support for the Trump administration’s effort to purge fraud from Medicaid. Fetterman said rooting out abuse in the program is “entirely appropriate” as investigators uncover widespread fraud. “There was a lot of fraud in Medicaid and now let’s root that out,” Fetterman told Major Garrett on ‘The Takeout’. Fetterman added that taxpayers should not be forced to fund fraudulent claims within the system. The remarks came while discussing the work of Dr Mehmet Oz inside the Trump administration.

Source: John Fetterman backs Trump administration in push to root out Medicaid fraud | Sky News Australia

That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9

Mike Johnson warns of encroaching Sharia law in US

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La , warned of what he characterized as an encroaching threat from Sharia law in the United States, which he said is incompatible with the U S Constitution Source: Mike Johnson warns of encroaching Sharia law in US | Politics

Scottish Parliament rejects assisted suicide in historic vote

Liam McArthur has lost his bid to legalize assisted suicide in Scotland after an hours-long final debate in which more members of the Scottish Parliament stood up to speak against the proposals than Source: Scottish Parliament rejects assisted suicide in historic vote | World

Democrats dismiss House hearing on Sharia threat in US

Multiple Democratic lawmakers were dismissive of a Tuesday congressional hearing about the growing threat of Islamic Sharia law in the U S , claiming it was a distraction from the greater dangers Source: Democrats dismiss House hearing on Sharia threat in US | Politics

Trump administration releasing 172 million barrels of oil from strategic reserve as Iran war causes soaring prices

oil well at sunset

President Trump ordered the release of 172 million barrels of oil from the U.S.’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve on Wednesday, after oil prices rocketed to their highest levels in years amid the U.S.’s war with Iran.

Source: Trump administration releasing 172 million barrels of oil from strategic reserve as Iran war causes soaring prices – CBS News

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.
Colossians 3:12

Suspected suicide bombings terrorize Maiduguri, Nigeria

Terrorists said to be members of Islamic extremist group Boko Haram on Monday (March 16) bombed three areas of Maiduguri, Borno state in northeast Nigeria, killing at least 23 people and wounding more than 100 others, sources said. Source: Suspected suicide bombings terrorize Maiduguri, Nigeria – Christian Daily International

UK House of Lords votes to allow abortion up to birth

The UK House of Lords has voted to allow a controversial clause on abortion legislation that removes criminal penalties for women ending their own pregnancies at any stage, including up to birth. Source: UK House of Lords votes to allow abortion up to birth – Brussels Signal

Confusion over abortion rights in Northern Ireland highlighted by reported case

The case of a schoolgirl reportedly sent from Northern Ireland to England for an abortion, and reportedly left traumatized by the experience, shows how confusion remains about abortion rights, an evangelical advocate for mothers and children has told Christian Daily International. Source: Confusion over abortion rights in Northern Ireland highlighted by reported case – Christian…

Recent News on Prominent Christian Figures & Cultural Impact (March 11 – March 18, 2026)

The week brought poignant tributes to a civil-rights giant, urgent papal appeals for peace amid Middle East tensions, a major realignment in global Anglicanism, and ongoing signs of a “Quiet Revival” among younger generations. Reports continued to reference the lingering “Charlie Kirk Effect” from his 2025 assassination, while new data highlighted Pope Leo XIV’s unexpected…

Human trafficking a rising problem in Cameroon

Human trafficking in Cameroon has been impeded by social stigma, inadequate financial resources, as well as lack of clarity in the laws. During a workshop on human trafficking organized by the Justice and Peace Commission of the Kumbo Diocese Christopher Bello said Cameroon is a source, transit and destination for human trafficking, noting this modern…

Recent Abortion News (March 11 – March 18, 2026)

Abortion policy continued to evolve at the state level this week, with new restrictions signed into law, high-profile legislative failures, court victories on religious-freedom grounds, and ongoing preparations for 2026 ballot battles. Both pro-life and pro-choice groups remained active, framing developments around fetal protections versus access and health impacts. Here are the major stories: 1.…