Has America Been Gaslit Regarding Transgender Suicides?
A growing body of evidence from outside the United States suggests that virtually no evidence supports the contention that restricting gender transition interventions contributes to rising suicide rates. Contrary to such contentions, a large-scale study of health data on Finnish youths who sought care from gender clinics undermines the claim that gender-transition interventions improve the mental health of gender-care recipients. Indeed, the study found that serious mental health problems increased dramatically among adolescents and young adults who underwent gender-transition interventions.
Press Pool Banned
The White House has banned reporters from CNN, MS Now, and Politico from accessing White House grounds or participating in White House press events. In response, the White House TV pool, which is composed of ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC is boycotting coverage of the White House and the president during the ban. The three banned outlets have filed a lawsuit seeking to be reinstated on First Amendment grounds. President Trump responded that it was not a restriction of a free press but rather a crackdown on fake news.
A Deal with Greenland
The U.S., Greenland, and Denmark have a deal, but it is not the long-discussed U.S. acquisition of Greenland. Instead, the three countries signed a deal to afford the U.S. expanded military presence in the country and reaffirm Greenland’s status as a self-determined territory of Denmark. Perhaps most significant is the agreement that no non-NATO military base will be permitted in Greenland. The leaders of the three countries signed the deal during meetings at the United Nations, and Denmark and Greenland will need to ratify it before it can take effect.
Midterm Convention
Election Day is less than seven weeks away, and Republicans held a “Midterm Convention” in Dallas last week to make their pitch to voters. President Donald Trump headlined the event, and party leaders hope it will help buck the historical trend of midterms cutting against the party in power. Democrats, on the other hand, hope to take control of both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House, as well as build momentum for the presidential election in 2028.
Never Forget
It was 25 years ago last Friday that planes were deliberately crashed into the two World Trade Center towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and another went down in rural Pennsylvania after passengers fought back against hijackers. Memorials were held at Ground Zero and many other locations, and the promise was again renewed to “never forget.”
AI Guardrails
It is rare for an industry to ask to be regulated, but the CEOs of two major Artificial Intelligence (AI) companies have done just that. Anthropic’s Dario Amodei and OpenAI’s Sam Altman are citing public safety and a pace of progress that exceeds human ability to guide it as the reasons for guardrails. Amodei penned an article detailing his recommendations and OpenAI put its initial public offering (IPO) on hold. Both companies suggested third-party auditors and global standards for advances in the technology.
Non-Working Royals
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, recently returned to the United Kingdom from the United States, where they had been living for the last six years, but King Charles has made it clear in a letter sent to government officials that they will remain non-working members of the royal family.
Amazon Plane Crash
Five people were killed and at least five injured when an Amazon plane careened approximately 1,300 feet past the end of the runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday. The deceased were travelling in a van owned by an airport cleaning company and a separate SUV that was outside airport boundaries. Officials are still investigating the cause of the crash.
Mistrial
After six weeks of trial (which were preceded by a week of jury selection) and another week of jury deliberations, the presiding judge has declared a mistrial in the case against Lindsay Clancy.
$17.1 Billion Settlement
Matthew 7:15-20 reminds us to distinguish good from bad according to the “fruit” produced. In other words, is the result nourishing or poisonous? In this instance, even amid great advances, there is a mountain of bad fruit. That reality should be instructive to Jesus followers as we regularly recalibrate our relationship with technology and especially the companies who design and market it to us.
Venezuela Oil Deal
What will exist or be more fruitful in 100 years because of what you do today? If this is a difficult concept for you to grasp, start by thinking about the blessings you enjoy that exist because of those who lived a century ago. What does their forethought inspire in you? How can you emulate that today in a way that will be similarly reflected on long after your time on Earth has passed?
Himalayan Flood
So much of our daily stress and effort is aimed at things that will not last. A story like this, sobering and tragic as it is, can be a stark reminder to vest your energy in that which will not be stolen by a thief in the night.
Raided and Seized
Former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell had his electronic devices seized and his home searched by federal agents over the weekend as part of an ongoing investigation of alleged sexual assault. The former Congressman resigned from Congress in April of this year after allegations intensified, and he ended a once-promising bid to be the next Governor of California. Federal authorities must now decide whether to bring charges against Swalwell.
A Trillion or Forty
How are you stewarding that which God has entrusted to you? What is your family’s debt-to-GDP, per se? Since we know our hearts follow our treasure, what does your spending allocation say about your heart’s condition?
Unfriendly Neighborhood
Canada is the second largest trading partner for the U.S., making up approximately 13% of U.S. trade, and the U.S. is by far the largest trading partner for Canada, accounting for approximately 76% of all Canadian trade. The sheer size of this economic activity is likely to mean consumers feel the price pressure of these tariffs sooner and more significantly than has been the case for recent trade negotiations.
From Lincoln to Washington
As we pray for the troops and their families, let us live in the light of John 15:12-13: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” A decision to serve and be subject to a deployment like this one is a decision to put another’s life ahead of your own. It is an act of great love, and it is one way to emulate the love of Jesus. As we lift up in prayer those who are serving, let us also look for ways that we too can model the sacrificial love of Jesus!
Are Vaccines Simply a Modern Religion?
Attorney Aaron Siri poses a thought-provoking question: “Ever hear ‘I believe in cars’ or ‘I believe in tools’?” Most adults would likely answer no. Yet many people readily say they “believe in vaccines.”
Two Continuing Resolutions
The U.S. Senate approved a continuing resolution (CR) in the early morning hours of Saturday to fund the government through December 11, 2026. The measure, which includes several extraneous items, differs from the CR passed by the U.S. House, which includes funding through December 4, 2026. To avert a government shutdown at the end of September, the two chambers will need to align on a uniform version of the CR to send to the president for his signature.
Two Executive Orders
U.S. President Donald Trump issued two significant executive orders this week: 1) an order narrowing the applicability of birthright citizenship, and 2) an order altering the childhood vaccine recommendations.
Border Stampede
Alongside the often-heated debate about immigration policy is a human dynamic that should be unifying for all Jesus followers. Every person was created and intended to be free (Gal. 5:1a). This is far more than the freedom we often think about from a political or governing perspective, though those elements of physical freedom can be an important part of an overarching freedom. Every person made in the image of the Creator is endowed with an instinct to be free. Every person’s primary purpose is bringing glory to the almighty God (Is. 43:21).