First Watch:

Report: Kids Are Being Abused By School Staff A new report highlighted by journalist Catherine Herridge claims that 17% of public school students nationwide have been “sexually victimized by school employees”. LiveAction pointed to systemic failures in reporting and safeguarding, with abusers paid to leave since it is “nearly impossible” to fire a teacher. (Not the Bee, Live Action)

Scouts on Notice Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Scouts America will walk back its gender policies to comply with the President’s executive order, ensuring kids of opposite sexes don’t share intimate spaces. (WNG)

No Discouragin’ Words Florida lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it an offense to speak ill of agriculture. Critics argue the measure threatens free speech and is redundant, given existing defamation and misinformation laws in the state. (Fox)

No Soul, No Faith The Pope has implored clergy to stop using AI to write sermons, saying AI “will never be able to share faith.” (Futurism)

No Treaty The last major nuclear arms control treaty expired last month. For the first time in more than 50 years, there are no binding limits on the growth of the largest nuclear arsenals on Earth, raising concerns about a renewed arms race. (The Conversation)

Ocean Phosphate There’s plenty of phosphate on the ocean floor, but a new initiative to mine it for fertilizer could harm marine ecosystems. (Ambrook Research)

Hot Oil A Brooklyn high school has adopted an innovative approach to heating — using vegetable oil as fuel. (CBS)

Politeness is King Burger King is piloting AI headsets that feed real-time information to employees and track whether workers are polite and responsive to customers. The company says the initiative is for training employees, not tracking. (AP)

Anthropic Out, OpenAI In The Trump administration has ordered all U.S. federal agencies to stop using AI technology from Anthropic, after refusing to cave on its insistence that its tech would not be used for domestic surveillance or autonomous weapons. OpenAI obviously have no qualms, finalizing a new deal with the Pentagon right away. (AP)

Maduro’s Bill is Due Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro appeared in a U.S. court arguing that U.S. sanctions are preventing funds he needs to mount his defense from reaching him. The United States does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader and continues to enforce financial restrictions.(AP)

Pakistan-Afghan Conflict Reignites Hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan have surged again, with both sides launching strikes. The two nations had been in cahoots resisting India’s influence, but the relationship has soured. Pakistan says it is targeting militants it accuses the Taliban of sheltering along the border; the Taliban accuses Pakistan of killing its people. (BBC, International Intrigue)

Second Watch:

Ayatollah Khamenei Meets His Maker Iranian state television has confirmed that the country’s supreme leader was killed in an Israeli missile strike on his compound. In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes against U.S.-aligned targets across the region, with missiles hitting or landing near hotels, airports, and residential areas in the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. Supporters of the regime gathered in the streets of Iran to mourn, while international media captured scenes of celebration among Iranian expatriates abroad. Western leaders have largely expressed support for US and Israeli actions, though concerns remain that the conflict could spiral into a broader regional war. Khamenei | Meanwhile, pro-Iranian demonstrators stormed the U.S. consulate compound in Karachi, Pakistan. US personnel reportedly shot and killed eight attackers during the breach. Closer to home, a Senegalese-born man killed three people and injured more at a Texas bar. The gunman, who was shot dead by police was wearing clothing featuring the Iranian flag and a sweatshirt that read “property of Allah”. Police are still investigating whether he had links to terrorist groups.

Clintons Can’t Recall Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified in a closed-door congressional hearing that she was unaware of Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activity and could not recall meeting him. Former President Bill Clinton similarly stated that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, claiming he would have reported him had he known. Investigative journalist Mike Benz says major gaps remain in the released documents, particularly toward the end of the Clinton presidency, when Epstein was reportedly involved in helping establish the Clinton Foundation after Bill Clinton left office. “The takeaway is we need the CIA and State Department side of this equation, and we also need the missing years from the Justice Department,” Benz said. “These two things are connected.”

Are We Great Again Yet? There was a great deal said about President Trump’s state of the union address, the longest recorded. You will find the full range of opinions about the speech, from those who say he nailed it, right through to those who questioned the value of a TV circus. The president honored veterans and victims of progressive policies, including survivors of transgender ideology and families affected by lenient prosecutors. He reiterated claims of economic strength and progress on deportations, though these remain points of contention for many Americans. One thing the President likely convinced Americans about is that Democrats “are crazy”. Dems notably refused to applaud several moments focused on border enforcement and bans on child transgender interventions (well, expect Senator Fetterman). The contrast extended beyond the chamber: following the U.S. men’s ice hockey team’s gold-medal victory—its first since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice”—some progressive outlets commiserated with those who found Olympic displays of patriotism a “turn off”.

Third Watch:

✏️ Inside a mechanical pencil

🧦 World’s largest sock monkey

🔭 Calculating the longest line of sight in the world

And…

As I have noted elsewhere, this troupe of bassmen use stairwells to great effect! This rendition of “Deliver Us” from The Prince of Egypt has a Lenten spirit, the yearning for deliverance by the better Moses, the true Son called out of Egypt.

And Bifrost Arts collage of Isaiah and Lamentations is a simple prayer:

Let us pray. O God, You Son shines with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that as we have known the mysteries of that Light on earth we may also come to the fullness of His joys in heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, You Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

You can also make a one-off or recurring donation here. Thank you!

First Watch:

Tumbler Ridge Shooting A small rural Canadian town is in shock after a trans-identified teen shot dead his mother and half brother before going to a local school and opening fire. Six others were killed before he took his own life. Canadian media continue to use the descriptor “gunperson” or female pronouns when reporting on the shooter. (BBC, Hot Air)

Balloon Scare Airspace over El Paso International Airport was closed for a period following a communication breakdown between the Department of Defense and aviation authorities. The Federal Aviation Administration shut the airport after authorities used a laser counter-drone weapon to eliminate what was later determined to be party balloons. Intelligence agencies say drugs are regularly flown across the Mexican border using drones. (KFOX14, The Hill)

Redundant drivers, then outsource the help Autonomous taxi company Waymo has admitted its vehicles rely on human operators—based in the Philippines and elsewhere—to guide them out of difficult situations. Waymo executives were questioned over the competence of foreign driving instructors, as well as concerns about China’s ability to meddle with Waymo’s Asian helpers. (Not the Bee)

Virginia’s Aggressive Redistricting Push Virginia Democrats have proposed a heavily gerrymandered 10–1 congressional map, which analysts say could carry them forward and is “quite possible but not guaranteed.” (Center for Politics)

Vacant Housing in the U.S. Approximately 10% of U.S. homes were vacant in 2024. This figure includes vacation properties but excludes uninhabitable dwellings. (USAFacts)

Japan’s Snap Election Gamble Pays Off Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, saw her gamble in calling a snap election pay off, with her party winning a supermajority. She has promised to tackle cost-of-living pressures and immigration and has agreed to revisit the nation’s post-Second World War constitution, which constrains the military, citing the need to stand up to China. (NBC, Chatham House)

Trump Pressure Chokes Cuba’s Fuel Supply Political pressure from President Trump on Latin America has effectively severed Cuba’s access to its primary petroleum sources in Venezuela and Mexico. Havana is now warning airlines not to fly in unless they have enough fuel to reach their next destination without refueling. (CBS)

Strong Jobs Report, Familiar Revisions The U.S. jobs report was surprisingly strong for January, with the unemployment rate falling to 4.3%. However, market watchers will wait for the revisions which have been consistently (and brutally) downward for the past several years. (AFR, ZeroHedge)

Earth’s Core May Hold Vast Hydrogen Reserves New scientific modeling suggests the Earth’s core may contain many times more hydrogen than exists in all the water in Earth’s oceans. Scientists say this indicates the planet acquired the majority of its water as it formed, rather than through later comet impacts, which anyone who has read Genesis could have guessed. (Science Alert)

Ferrari Unplugged Ferrari has discovered that many owners of its hybrid supercars don’t bother charging them. Apparently, it takes too long for Ferrari owners who prefer to run their machines on gas. (Robb Report)

Second Watch:

Epstein Monkey’s Paw Lawmakers descended into chaos during an Oversight Committee hearing over the release of Jeffrey Epstein–related documents—a case that continues to punish every faction that tries to control it. After President Trump ordered the release of all files, the DOJ dumped roughly three million pages (with millions more reportedly still unreleased). In the scramble, victims’ names were left unredacted while alleged perpetrators’ names were blacked out. During the wild hearing, Attorney General Pam Bondi deflected blame to prior administrations, but no one appears satisfied. Democrats note Trump is mentioned repeatedly (though he also reported Epstein to police in 2006), while Republicans point out that many of the most lurid details implicate Democrats and major donors. The documents—court filings, tips, and unverified allegations—have widened the blast radius, ensnaring people with only tangential associations, while delivering no major prosecutions in the U.S.

The Whims of the Market The sponsor of Orlando, Florida’s “Gay Days” says the event is on pause as donations have dried up. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Campaign reports that roughly two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies previously participating have stopped voluntarily submitting their DEI policies for scoring in its Corporate Equality Index. Some analysts warned that corporate whiplash—loudly promoting values one year and quietly retreating the next—widens the public “trust gap”. While conservatives were optimistic that a moral change was in play, a closer look suggests this may be just a tactical pause, with many companies likely to fall back in line under the next progressive administration.

Trump Digs Coal The Environmental Protection Agency has alarmed climate alarmists by rolling back an Obama-era “endangerment finding” that classified carbon dioxide and methane as harmful emissions subject to Clean Air Act regulation. The designation underpinned rules governing vehicles, power plants, and energy facilities. The Trump administration questions the underlying science, with the president stating that the Obama and Biden EPAs “twisted the law, ignored precedent, and warped science to achieve their preferred ends.”

Third Watch:

🧊 How Olympic ice is made

⛸️ U.S. figure skater Ilia Malinin’s “brazen and ostentatious flex” gets him no points but is pretty impressive

😎 It costs a pretty penny to look like an Olympian

And

Good job, lads. What a beautiful sound from Men Sing Grand Rapids.

Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, help us ever to seek You and to seek others for You, that Your harvest may be full and we may join those from every tribe and nation at the heavenly feast, where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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✅ Cross+Sentinel – an end-of-week round up of headlines with more more depth plus interesting links and funnies.

✅ Black Bag – longer-form writing to help equip the saints to spot lies, speak truth and live faithfully.

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First Watch:

There’s No Agency When You’re Frozen New York City’s Mayor Mamdani is facing criticism after 16 homeless people were found frozen to death following severe cold weather. Mamdani ended a policy that required sanitation workers to dismantle encampments and direct people to shelters, arguing that forcing people indoors was infringing on their rights. Mamdani said he deployed two “warming buses,” though residents say no one knew they were available. Meanwhile, trash collection has “fallen behind” as garbage piles up amid snowstorms. (Front Page, Not the Bee)

WashPo “Murder” Journalists at the Washington Post are mourning the “murder” of the publication after roughly one-third of its newsroom was laid off. Critics of the paper’s long history of targeted hit pieces were less sympathetic, noting that the Post—founded as a Democratic paper—showed little concern for those it smeared. Owner Jeff Bezos has been blamed for the outlet’s decline, though it remains unclear why he should be expected to absorb reported losses of around $100 million a year indefinitely. (Washington Examiner, Steve Milloy via X, Hot Air)

Nike Alleged Anti-White Hiring Bias The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has requested documents from Nike following allegations that the company discriminated against white applicants in its hiring practices. (Just the News)

Bill to Criminalize “Islamophobia” Muslim Virginia State Senator Saddam Azlan Salim has introduced legislation that would criminalize “Islamophobia,” defined as “malicious prejudice or hatred directed toward Islam or Muslims,” effectively outlawing criticism of the religion as well as its adherents. (Front Page)

Suspected California Biolab Airbnb Police have raided a property in California believed to have been used as a biolab, discovering vials labeled Ebola, dengue fever, and HIV. The home is linked to an investigation involving a Chinese national and was also listed as an Airbnb. Several people reportedly became seriously ill after lodging there. (8News Now, 8News Now)

Illegal Alien Truck Driver Kills Four An illegal alien from Kyrgyzstan drove into oncoming traffic, plowing into a car that was transporting a number of Amish men in Indiana. (KATV)

Women’s Medalist has Male Genes Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who won Olympic gold in women’s boxing events, has admitted he has the male SRY gene. (Washington Examiner)

Veganism Is In Decline Once hailed as the future of food, veganism is losing popularity. (Grub Street)

Polymarket Opens Free Grocery Store Prediction market platform Polymarket has opened a free grocery store in New York City, offering food to the city’s poorest residents. What could possibly go wrong? (Yahoo)

Starmer Under Pressure British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing calls to resign after appointing Peter Mandelson as U.S. ambassador despite allegedly knowing of Mandelson’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, even after Epstein’s sexual crime conviction. (The Critic)

🍿 Alternative Half-Time Show If you’re planning to watch the Super Bowl and want something else to look at beside the debauched half-time show… (The Blaze)

Second Watch:

Controlling The Means Of Prediction Almost $2 billon bets placed will be placed on this year’s Super Bowl, and beyond online gambling, prediction markets are the new hybrid kid on the block. With online betting governed by a patchwork of state laws across the U.S., prediction markets have carved out a niche. Investopedia describes them as “a collection of people speculating on a variety of events.” The founder of Kalshi, one of the largest platforms, says prediction markets harness the wisdom of crowds: “People don’t lie when money’s involved. You want to be right about your predictions so you don’t lose money.” The founder of competitor Polymarket is similarly bullish, claiming, “People have more clarity about the world because Polymarket exists.” But states are calling for licensing and regulation, and others are raising national security concerns. Critics warn that individuals with insider knowledge—such as potential U.S. intervention in Iran or the capture of Nicolás Maduro—could reveal more through their betting behavior than is safe.

A Warning Shot In a rare piece of good news from the gender world, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has issued a statement saying its policy should now be that so-called “gender-affirming” surgical interventions be delayed until a patient is at least 19 years old. The organization also acknowledged ethical concerns surrounding cross-sex hormone regimens and what is referred to as “social transitioning.” The statement follows a landmark malpractice ruling involving Fox Varian, who as a teenage girl was approved for and underwent a double mastectomy. A psychologist and surgeon were found negligent, and Varian was awarded $2 million in damages. The case centered on a narrow question of malpractice: Varian was not adequately warned of side effects, and physicians failed to address underlying psychological conditions before prescribing radical and irreversible interventions.

Masks Off, Cameras On, Agents Out While a brief government shutdown has ended, lawmakers are now deadlocked over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which expires soon. Democrats are demanding immigration agents wear body cameras—a proposal Republicans largely support—but also that agents not wear masks, which the GOP argues would endanger their lives. Border czar Tom Homan says 700 agents will be withdrawn from Minneapolis. Vice President J.D. Vance told Megyn Kelly the move is not a retreat but a practical adjustment, explaining that fewer agents are needed now that they were primarily there to protect operations on the ground. Meanwhile, the city of Spokane is considering “immigration enforcement–free zones.” The irony was especially thick in Minneapolis, where activists set up their own checkpoints, demanding identification so they could “know who’s coming in and going out.” Just like ICE.

Pick A Lane The Grammys were their usual circus, with wealthy music industry elites leaving their gated, well-guarded homes to don “ICE Out” pins at a glitzy awards show. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson raised eyebrows after being spotted in the crowd cheering during anti-deportation rhetoric. Someone named Shaboozey drew criticism for claiming immigrants built the United States while omitting African Americans’ contribution altogether. But the coveted Steps-on-a-Rake Award went to singing Billie Eilish, who declared that “no one is illegal on stolen land” before unleashing profanity at immigration enforcement. Internet sleuths quickly noted that her California mansion sits on land once belonging to the Tongva tribe.

Third Watch:

🪼 A rare phantom jellyfish off the coast of to Argentina can grow the size of a school bus

✈️ Sleek new Hondajet will be able to land by itself

📮 NYC’s historic pneumatic tube mail system was expensive, but really amazing. “The first cylinder tube to travel through the New York City system contained “a Bible, a flag and a copy of the Constitution.”

And

While a lot of celebrity speeches crediting God for their success are indeed performative, country artist Jelly Roll’s testimony was an island of humility in a sea of self-sanctimony. I don’t know the state of his heart, but God’s Word always accomplishes what is intended, even out of the mouths of celebrities.

Let us pray. O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Sign up for all the Sentinel newsletters (or unsubscribe from the ones you don’t want!):

✅ The Watches – one or twice weekly quick summaries of headlines

✅ Cross+Sentinel – an end-of-week round up of headlines with more more depth plus interesting links and funnies.

✅ Black Bag – longer-form writing to help equip the saints to spot lies, speak truth and live faithfully.

Go to your subscription settings on Substack and rock on!

Subscribe now

You can also make a one-off or recurring donation here. Thank you!

First Watch:

Jack Smith Faces Lawmakers Special prosecutor Jack Smith was questioned by lawmakers over his role in surveilling phone records of members of Congress while allegedly concealing investigative targets from a judge. Smith defended his actions and reiterated claims that President Trump engaged in criminal conduct related to January 6 and classified documents. Both cases were dismissed after Trump returned to the White House, though Democrats say future prosecutions remain on the table. (Washington Examiner, Daily Signal, The Federalist)

New Crime Data Claims Historic Low New reporting claims the U.S. murder rate is on track for its lowest level since 1900. While several major cities have been accused of manipulating crime statistics, lower crime rates are being reported in jurisdictions cooperating with immigration enforcement, suggesting increased policing and deportations are reducing violent crime. (The Federalist, Twitchy)

Michigan Migrant Fraud A Nigerian-born professor at a Michigan university has pleaded guilty to wire fraud for her role in a scheme that stole around $1 million from a charity serving children from low-income households. As fraud committed in the name of “justice” continues to surface, one outlet summed it up bluntly: “Turns out it’s really easy to make money in America by lying.”(The Blaze, Not the Bee)

Florida Weakens American Bar Association Monopoly Florida’s Supreme Court has ruled that the state’s law schools may seek accreditation from bodies other than the American Bar Association, ending the ABA’s role as the sole arbiter of legal education in the state.(Florida Phoenix)

Trump Sues JPMorgan Chase President Trump is suing JPMorgan Chase over its decision to close several of his bank accounts in 2021. Trump claims he was debanked due to his political views, while the bank says it only closes accounts that pose “legal or regulatory risk” and that federal rules required the move.(The Hill)

ICE Decoy Dupes Protesters The group Blue Lives Matter says it may or may not have conducted decoy operations across several states to distract anti-ICE protesters, allowing immigration enforcement officers to carry out operations without interference.(Red State)

Massive Pileup on Michigan Highway More than 100 vehicles were involved in a major pileup on a snow-covered highway in Michigan as winter weather battered the region. Stay safe folks, it’s chilly! (Fox via X)

Japan’s Parliament Dissolved Japan’s prime minister has dissolved parliament, with observers saying the move is designed to trigger early elections and capitalize on her strong public approval. (AP)

U.S., Ukraine, and Russia Hold First Joint Talks Officials from the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia have met together for the first time in Abu Dhabi to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. The sticking point as previously is the future of Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia.(NBC)

Iran Threatens Global ‘Jihad’ Iran has adopted what it calls a “military posture,” warning that any action against leader Ayatollah Khamenei would trigger global jihad. The warning follows reports that the U.S. has sent a carrier strike group to the region and that Iran’s leader has been moved to a bunker. Human rights groups estimate up to 25,000 protesters have been killed by the regime. (The Guardian, Die Welt)

Second Watch:

DHS: No Child is ‘Bait’ The Department of Homeland Security is disputing headlines claiming ICE detained a five-year-old child and used him as “bait” to lure out his illegal-alien parents. According to immigration officials, agents were attempting to arrest the boy’s father when he fled, leaving the child behind. They played music and gave the boy food, after this mother reportedly refused to take him. Critics condemned the agents’ handling of the situation, though no doubt ICE are mindful of handing a child over to school officials or third parties following revelations that thousands of unaccompanied minors released under the Biden administration were later trafficked into forced labor and sexual exploitation. (PJ Media, AP) | A 37 year-old nurse has been shot dead, apparently by ICE agents after a scuffle this morning. Early reports suggest the man had been part of a large anti-ICE protest in Minneapolis and was carrying a firearm. In distressing videos circulating online, he appears to have already been disarmed by several ICE agents when he was shot multiple times. Vice President Vance, in Minneapolis earlier this week, trying to calm things down, said that chaos in Minneapolis was unnecessary and urged leadership to cooperate and share information with ICE.

End Of The World As We Know It President Trump ignited debate at the World Economic Forum in Davos with a long speech that insulted allies and adversaries alike. Everyone saw the thing differently, with critics arguing such rhetoric risks alienating Europe, while supporters said Trump’s confrontational approach is already pushing European leaders to act on immigration enforcement, military spending, and national sovereignty. Much debate also circled around a speech from Canada’s Mark Carney. The Prime Minister suggested the “rules-based’ global order was now ruptured, warning that, “Middle powers need to be at the table or will be ‘on the menu’”. Shortly after stating the U.S. would not use force to take Greenland, Trump announced a new agreement expanding America’s strategic role on the island to counter potential Chinese and Russian threats. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer appears to be backtracking on plans to transfer the Chagos Islands—home to a vital joint UK-U.S. military base—to Mauritian control, reportedly following Trump’s criticism of the move. As Albert Mohler observed, the ultimate judgment of the President’s approach will rest with the “verdict of history.”

Third Watch:

🇹🇭 Thailand’s amazing “three whales” rock

💅🏻 Colour-changing “smart” press-on nails

🧬 How long could you survive without DNA?

🌨️ Why snow is white

And..

The mainstream media were more interested in protest marches in Minneapolis but thousands still turned out on behalf of the unborn.

Vice President J D Vance spoke powerfully about the need for a society that values life: “Today, the far-left in this country tells our young people that marriage and children are obstacles, that it’s irresponsible, even immoral because of climate change or some other reason, to encourage our young people to raise a family. They tell us that life itself is a burden. But we know that it’s a lie. We know that life is a gift.”

Let us pray. Almighty God, in Your mercy guide the course of this world so that Your church may joyfully serve You in godly peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Sign up for all the Sentinel newsletters (or unsubscribe to the ones you don’t want!):

✅ The Watches – one or twice weekly quick summaries of headlines

✅ Cross+Sentinel – an end-of-week round up of headlines with more more depth plus interesting links and funnies.

✅ Black Bag – longer-form writing to help equip the saints to spot lies, speak truth and live faithfully.

Go to your subscription settings on Substack and rock on!

Subscribe now

You can also make a one-off or recurring donation here. Thank you!

First Watch:

Supreme Court Pressed on Sex and Sports The Supreme Court heard arguments in a major case challenging state laws that bar males from competing in female athletic events. Transgender athletes are asking the Court to strike down the laws, arguing they amount to unlawful sex-based discrimination. Justice Samuel Alito pressed hard on that claim, asking how discrimination “on the basis of sex” can be alleged if male and female cannot be clearly defined in the first place. (Washington Examiner)

UK Threatens to Ban Elon Musk’s Grok Britain’s Prime Minister has threatened to ban xAI’s chatbot Grok, citing its ability to generate images of real people without consent. Keir Starmer argues the feature violates the UK’s sweeping Online Safety Act passed last year. Starmer has been openly hostile toward X and Elon Musk, even vowing to use government resources to monitor Musk’s posts more closely. Malaysia and Indonesia have already blocked Grok over similar concerns. (ZeroHedge, Spiked, BBC)

Trump Floats Housing Market Shake-Up President Trump has been spitballing ideas to ease the cost-of-living crunch, including a proposal to ban Wall Street firms from buying single-family homes. Some observers say it’s about time, while others noted that the least affordable housing markets are often those with minimal corporate investment. Investor David Bahnsen argues the real solution is simple: build more homes. (The Week, World Radio podcast)

Treasury Targets Minnesota Fraud Pipeline Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says he will restrict the amount of money that can be wired overseas from two Minnesota counties following the exposure of massive fraud schemes, largely tied to Somali networks. (New York Post)

Trump Pushes Credit Card Interest Cap President Trump says he wants to cap credit card interest rates. (Fox)

Opioid Overdose Deaths Continue to Fall Deaths from opioid overdoses in the United States have continued their downward trend, offering a rare piece of good news amid years of grim statistics. A number of factors may have lead to the decrease including China being persuaded to reduce production of its chemical ingredients. (PJ Media)

Dilbert Creator Scott Adams Dies Scott Adams, the cartoonist behind Dilbert, has died following a battle with cancer. Shortly after his death, his former wife published a letter from him, recording that he acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, writing that any remaining doubts would be “quickly resolved” if he woke up in heaven. Lord, help his unbelief! (Scott Adams via X)

Tech’s Sand Box at CES The Consumer Electronics Show delivered its usual mix of novelty and ambition this year, featuring a gadget that detects potential food allergens, headphones that monitor brain activity, and a rollable laptop. LEGO also drew praise for new “smart bricks” that light up or move in response to how children play with them. (WNG, Mashable)

UAE Pulls UK Study Sponsorships The United Arab Emirates says it will no longer sponsor students seeking to study in the UK, citing fears of radicalization by Muslim Brotherhood groups in Britain. (Fox)

Are Americans Falling Out of Love With Pizza? Once untouchable, America’s favorite food may be losing ground.(The Week)

Second Watch:

Minnesota Vice Videos of an ICE protester being shot in Minneapolis have predictably split the country. The officer involved had reportedly previously been dragged by a car driven by an illegal alien he was attempting to arrest for sexual crimes, making his actions understandable. However, legal analysts went further saying the agent’s actions were fully justified. According to reporting, the deceased woman, Renee Good, had been trained to follow, harass, and film agents as they carried out their duties. That harassment has since escalated: protesters have reportedly searched hotels for ICE personnel and staged late-night disturbances to keep them awake. The terrible dissonance that identity politics creates in its subscribers was evident. Portland’s chief became emotional while confirming that two Venezuelans shot and injured after attempting to ram ICE officers with a vehicle were linked to Tren de Aragua—adding that he worried stating this fact might sound like “victim blaming.” As one protester publicly wrestled with whether her “white tears” were appropriate, users on X noted that the last white woman shot in Minneapolis received barely a mention from left-wing media outlets.

Make Dietary Guidelines Sensible Again The Secretaries of Health and Agriculture jointly released new dietary guidelines that have thrilled MAHA advocates. RFK Jr. summed up the philosophy succinctly: “Eat real food.” Nutrition writer and physician Gary Taubes praised the shift, noting that unprocessed whole foods—animal-based or not—“require minimal insulin to control blood sugar.” For critics of ultra-processed diets, it feels like vindication long overdue.

Venezuela: Vacuum? Venezuela has begun releasing what officials describe as “large numbers” of political prisoners, a move President Trump says signals an interest in peace. With the vice president of Maduro’s regime stepping into the top role, Trump has invited opposition leader María Corina Machado to the White House, amid concerns about a potential power vacuum. The president also met with oil executives to encourage investment in Venezuela’s battered infrastructure and energy sector, but it sounds like they’re not enticed.

Make Some History Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies has urged the Trump administration not to miss a rare opening for historic change in Iran, as mass protests against the regime continue to grow. While there have been a number of uprisings since the mullahs came to power, currently Iran has been weakened by Israeli and American military strikes and is alienated from a number of Arab neighbors. Hundreds of protesters have reportedly been killed, thousands arrested, and internet access cut nationwide, with authorities blaming the unrest on American interference. Trump has canceled scheduled meetings with Iran’s leadership and told protesters that “help is coming,” though what form that help might take remains unclear.

Third Watch:

🪨 From water to outer space, skimming stones is a serious business

🧛 Dracula Land: Romania will soon have a theme park dedicated to its most famous literary character

🇺🇸 An American [tree] in Paris?

📜 Whining started pretty early.. The oldest written customer complaint

And… This strange tale of Jesuits, samurai and Venice reminded me that God’s great plan of salvation is always proceeding as He intended. No human schemes, misplaced motives, war, distance, time or language can stop him bringing His people to Himself.

Let us pray. Lord God, Heavenly Father, Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, died for the ungodly, declaring all of humanity righteous by the shedding of His blood. Grant us the free gift of faith to receive this reality for our salvation, that by Your grace we may serve You in love and righteousness all the days of our lives; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Sign up for all the Sentinel newsletters (or unsubscribe to the ones you don’t want!):

✅ The Watches – one or twice weekly quick summaries of headlines

✅ Cross+Sentinel – an end-of-week round up of headlines with more more depth plus interesting links and funnies.

✅ Black Bag – longer-form writing to help equip the saints to spot lies, speak truth and live faithfully.

Go to your subscription settings on Substack and rock on!

Subscribe now

You can also make a one-off or recurring donation here. Thank you!

First Watch:

Library Board Fired Randolph County, North Carolina, has dissolved its public library board after members voted to make a transgender-themed children’s book available to first graders. County commissioners said the board no longer reflected community standards. (The Blaze)

2020 Votes Lacked Certification An election integrity hearing in Fulton County, Georgia, heard testimony alleging that more than 315,000 votes in the 2020 presidential election were illegally certified. President Biden was officially declared the winner in Georgia by just 11,779 votes. (The Federalist, The Federalist)

Self-Deporting Bonus President Trump has increased financial incentives for self-deportation among illegal immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security says roughly 1.9 million people have voluntarily left the U.S. so far this year. (Daily Wire)

Denmark Not Impressed Denmark has objected after President Trump appointed a special envoy to Greenland, escalating tensions over U.S. interest in the strategically vital territory. Greenland is also pretty unimpressed. (ZeroHedge)

Hero's Bill Firefighters who die or develop certain cancers related to their work will now be eligible for a one-time disability payment after bipartisan legislation was signed into law.(KDNK)

Too Much Bourbon Jim Beam is halting production at a Kentucky distillery saying tariffs have fuelled a slump in demand for bourbon. (AP)

No Signs Waymo’s autonomous taxis struggled during a recent blackout in San Francisco, with multiple vehicles losing navigation on account of the darkness. Some gave up and parked themselves in the middle of streets. (BBC)

Japan Getting Back to Nuclear The operator of the world’s largest nuclear power plant has asked Japan for permission to restart a reactor in Niigata. Japan shut down its nuclear facilities following the 2011 Fukushima disaster triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami. (Die Welt)

Aussie PM heckled Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was booed while visiting Bondi Beach following a deadly antisemitic attack during a Hanukkah gathering. Albanese has faced criticism for announcing a major gun buyback while his government downplays concerns about violent Islam as a national security threat. (Not the Bee)

Second Watch:

A Dark Comedy of Errors Leadership at Brown University and authorities in Providence, Rhode Island, are facing backlash after a cascade of failures came to light following last week’s mass shooting. The police chief has been placed on leave. The man believed to have carried out the shooting was found dead in a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire after a 6 day manhunt. His motives are unclear, but he Portugesus national who once studied at Brown, is also responsible shot and killed MIT professor Nuno F Gomes Loureiro, who had studied with him at a unicvesty in Portugal. (Hot Air, CNN) | Meanwhile, Washington, DC’s police chief has been fired amid mounting evidence that her department manipulated crime statistics to make the city appear safer than it was. In a wild farewell speech, she compared her professional suffering to Jesus’s persecution on the cross. (After Party via YouTube)

60 Minutes, 60 Excuses CBS has pulled a 60 Minutes segment just hours before it was scheduled to air. The report focused on El Salvador’s massive gang prison, known as CECOT. New Head of News Bari Weiss reportedly called for multiple changes before postponing the piece altogether, arguing that the story failed to present the administration’s case for sending Venezuelans to CECOT prison. She also objected to the use of the term “migrant” to describe those in the U.S. illegally. (The Hill, Red State, The Independent)

Special K-shaped New economic data show the U.S. economy grew at a surprising pace in the third quarter, driven largely by consumer spending. But the bulk of that spending came from health care expenditures by older, financially independent Americans, with recreational spending (fishing, golfing, and the like) close behind. President Trump’s tariffs have not triggered the collapse many predicted, but waiting for relief may carry political costs with working-class voters, who are still pulling their belts in. While growing the GDP pie does tend to lift more Americans over time, the immediate gains are flowing mostly to “older rich people and their Indian employees.” (AP, CNN, Not the Bee)

Third Watch:

✝️ Texas megachurch used 1000 drones for good

🤗 The science behind a warm hug

🚗 The weirdest driving laws in the country

And..

Okay, stick with me on this one…

Let us pray. O God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when He comes to be our Judge; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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Greetings! A quick note to say I am not sure how Sentinel newsletters will shake out in December and January, with family commitments and all. I am currently working on an end-of-year epic compendium, and I’m looking forward to sending that out soon. To my super dooper supporters, I will pause payments while I take a break and kick it back off in the new year. God’s peace to you! Frisby

First Watch:

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino has announced his resignation. (USA Today)

Erika Kirk and Candace Owens have met privately to sort through some differences, with both women saying the meeting went well. (WNG)

Warner Bros Rejects Bid Warner Bros has rejected Paramount’s $108 billion takeover offer. The company’s board said Netflix’s $72 billion proposal posed less risk to shareholders. (Hollywood Reporter)

The Oscars Bidding War Goes To…. Youtube. Google’s video platform is set to stream the Academy Awards from 2029 to 2033 after wining the broadcasting right, a deal reportedly costing nine figures. (Variety)

Turtles Thaw Out A couple dozen sea turtles are being rehabilitated in Florida after being found “cold-stunned” near Cape Cod. Turtles migrating south for winter can become trapped in Massachusetts’ hooked peninsula. (NBC)

Early Digital Photos are quietly disappearing as outdated formats, abandoned platforms, and neglected storage take their toll. (BBC)

All They Want for Christmas is crypto. (CNBC)

Future Work LinkedIn reports that one in five jobs today did not exist at the turn of the millennium. (MSN)

Greece Pays Back Early Greece has made an early repayment on its bailout loans after trimming spending and cracking down on tax evasion, contributing to long-awaited financial stabilization in a country that has been in crisis for years. (EuroNews)

The Front Line Is Everywhere MI6 chief Blaise Metreweli warned in a speech that “the front line is everywhere…Online, on our streets, in our supply chains, in the minds and on the screens of our citizens.” As one newsletter summarized it: “Our world’s connectivity — technological, financial, logistical, social — is metastasizing from asset to liability.” (International Intrigue)

Second Watch:

Money Matters Tonight President Trump addressed the nation last night to outline his administration’s achievements amid polls showing weak approval ratings, particularly on the economy. The president promised cash payouts to soldiers and larger tax refunds for working Americans. | House Speaker Mike Johnson said earlier this week that he would not allow a vote on extending Covid-era Obamacare subsidies. However, four House Republicans have broken ranks to join Democrats in forcing a vote. The move comes after Republicans advanced an alternative healthcare agenda but failed to address the rising cost of insurance policies. (CNBC, Red State, AP)

Minnesota’s Money Pit Fox’s Will Cain says high-ranking Minnesota Democrats are deeply connected to the state’s massive welfare fraud scheme and have benefited financially. The U.S. Department of Education says Minnesota also has a serious “ghost student” problem — including students who do not exist and others who live overseas — amounting to more than $12 million in improper grants. (Not the Bee, The Federalist)

Raiding Mar-a-Lago Newly released documents show the FBI was not convinced the August 2022 Mar-a-Lago raid was merited, with bureau officials arguing there were other ways to recover classified materials. Fox News reports the documents indicate the Biden Justice Department pushed for the raid and authorized the use of deadly force. (The Hill, Fox)

Squeezed for Oil President Trump says he has ordered a “blockade” to prevent sanctioned oil tankers from entering or leaving Venezuela. Nicolás Maduro’s regime is barred from international oil markets due to US sanctions but continues to smuggle crude using unflagged tankers, largely feeding China’s black market. The move appears designed to ramp up pressure on Maduro, whom Trump has reportedly told to leave the country. (AP)

Third Watch:

🍪 Which Christmas cookie are you?

🪙 The last minted pennies have been sold for millions

🎄 Is it a mad professors workbench or a “steampunk Christmas tree”?

And another song rec this week, Stopford’s take on “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree”. I know this is a season of evergreens, but I love the image from Solomon’s poetry of a redeeming apple tree, the antidote to the Fall, Whose “fruit doth make my soul to thrive” and “keeps my dying faith alive”!

Let us pray. Merciful and everlasting God, You did not spare Your only Son but delivered Him up for us all to bear our sins on the cross. Grant that our hearts may be so fixed with steadfast faith in Him that we fear not the power of sin, death and the devil; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Sign up for all the Sentinel newsletters (or unsubscribe to the ones you don’t want!):

✅ The Watches – one or twice weekly quick summaries of headlines

✅ Cross+Sentinel – an end-of-week round up of headlines with more more depth plus interesting links and funnies.

✅ Black Bag – longer-form writing to help equip the saints to spot lies, speak truth and live faithfully.

Go to your subscription settings on Substack and rock on!

Subscribe now

You can also make a one-off or recurring donation here. Thank you!

First Watch:

• Brony Angle in DC Pipe Bomb Case Updates on the suspected DC pipe bomber include claims he was active on “Brony” forums—grown men heavily into My Little Pony. Yes, it’s a thing, and no, it’s not an indicator of a sound mind. (Not the Bee)

• Erika Kirk Pushes Back on Speculation Erika Kirk has asked those who are peddling wild theories about her husband’s assassination to stop. She referred to current internet chatterers trying to guess the site of Charlie Kirk’s burial as a breaking point. (Red State)

• Small Businesses Struggled in November Jobs Report November’s jobs report wasn’t great. Larger companies kept hiring steadily, but small “mom and pop” businesses with fewer than 50 employees struggled. (NBC)

• Tanker Seized President Trump says the US has seized a Venezuelan oil tanker, but has not said why. (WNG)

• Musk Says God Made the Universe Elon Musk told podcast host Katie Miller he believes God created the universe—though he still floated the idea that humans are leftover particles of dead stars. (Thanks, Moby and the other popularizers of that theory..🤦‍♂️) A little more humbling to remember we began with dirt and spirit. (WNG)

• Fishy Sounds New underwater tech now lets ecologists identify the sounds of individual fish species. (Good News Network)

• Influential architect Frank Gehry has died at age 96. (New York Times)

Second Watch:

Nativity Hijacked for Politics Boston’s Catholic archdiocese has asked a parish to remove its political nativity scene, which featured an empty stable and a message claiming Jesus, Mary, and Joseph had been taken by immigration authorities. The Christmas story gets co-opted for all kinds of agendas, but the comparisons are ridiculous and always miss the real power of the Gospel in a blind scramble for political points. (WNG, The Federalist)

DOJ Rejects ‘Disparate Impact’ Theory The Department of Justice has revised how it handles “disparate impact” claims under the Civil Rights Act, saying it will now require actual evidence of bias. Critics say the theory undermined merit-based hiring, punishing workplaces that lacked “diversity,” as if they are discriminatory by default. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said the shift will “restore true equality under the law by requiring proof of actual discrimination, rather than enforcing race- or sex-based quotas or assumptions.” (Not the Bee, NewsWeek)

Hill of [Soy]beans? President Trump says he will lift the ban on Nvidia exporting its H200 chips to China. Debate continues over whether restricting U.S. tech ever slowed China’s AI development at all. Trump’s goal is to get China buying American produce again, even as he approved a $12 billion relief package for U.S. farmers. (Semafor, BBC)

Local Politics The Trump administration’s newly released National Security Strategy is drawing fire from both sides. Critics say it needlessly alienates European allies and abandons “great power competition,” leaving Russia and China unchecked. The Tangle newsletter noted, however, that focusing on the U.S. backyard may not be misguided, given how much influence China and Russia already hold south of the border. (Washington Examiner, Tangle, CSIS)

Third Watch:

🧁 Say it with cake?

🍺 Wildfires may lead to smoky beer

🏰 Ten British landscapes that inspired literary classics

And…

The first volume in the Family Bible Commentary by Friend of the Sentinel, Dr Adam Koontz, is available now! As he says, “The Scriptures opened up are light for the soul and food for the heart. Nothing suits a Christian better than growth in the knowledge of his God, and how can he grow, whether young or old in years or faith, if the Spirit’s Word does not feed him?”

Let us pray. O God of love, those who abide in love abide in You, and You abide in them. Give us such perfect love of You and our neighbor that all fear may be cast out of our hearts and we may with confidence greet You on the Day of Judgement; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

Sign up for all the Sentinel newsletters (or unsubscribe to the ones you don’t want!):

✅ The Watches – one or twice weekly quick summaries of headlines

✅ Cross+Sentinel – an end-of-week round up of headlines with more more depth plus interesting links and funnies.

✅ Black Bag – longer-form writing to help equip the saints to spot lies, speak truth and live faithfully.

Go to your subscription settings on Substack and rock on!

Subscribe now

You can also make a one-off or recurring donation here. Thank you!

First Watch:

• Dell founder Michael Dell and his wife are donating over $6 billion to support President Trump’s proposal to open $1,000 savings accounts for American children. (Not the Bee)

• MIT engineers have designed artificial tendons for robots, resulting in the machine pinching “its fingers together three times faster, and with 30 times greater force.” (MIT)

• An “inclusive” nativity scene in Brussels—where roughly a quarter of the population is Muslim—gave the Holy Family blank fabric faces so viewers could “project themselves” onto the figures (and no doubt, to avoid depicting prophets). It still didn’t land: the head of baby Jesus was stolen. (Front Page)

• The search for Malaysia Airlines MH370 will resume this month, with Malaysia’s government offering U.S. firm Ocean Infinity $70 million if it finds the missing plane. Flight MH370 vanished in 2014 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.(BBC)

• A new study links soybean oil consumption to obesity. (Futurity)

Second Watch:

Double Tap Right before Thanksgiving, the Washington Post reported that U.S. forces—allegedly on the orders of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth—killed two survivors from a disabled narco boat. The New York Times challenged WashPo back, saying its own anonymous sources denied Hegseth issued the kill order—the second strike was reportedly ordered by Admiral Frank Bradley who was running the operation. Former Army judge advocate and Cornell law professor Brian Cox added that if the vessel was disabled but not destroyed, it remained a legitimate target. NYT sources also said U.S. forces intercepted radio communications from the boat before the second hit. The news dropped just after six Democrat lawmakers issued an out-of-the-blue public reminder that soldiers must not follow illegal orders. Commentary podcast noted the timing suggested advance leaks; Megyn Kelly wondered whether the Post felt it had “permission” to find a crime, even at the risk of getting the facts wrong. While the White House frames cartel-linked smuggling as a national-security threat, critics like Andrew McCarthy at National Review argue the legal basis for the strikes is shaky. (PJ Media, WNG, National Review, Daily Wire, Brian Cox via X) | Meanwhile, a Colombian family is suing the U.S. government, claiming a man killed by a U.S. strike was a fisherman with no cartel ties. (CBS)

Black Friday Spending Breaks Records Americans spent almost $12 billion online this Black Friday, according to Adobe. The record reflects a mixed economic picture—shoppers are still buying, but with “discipline, not adrenaline,” amid high prices and ongoing uncertainty. Buy-now-pay-later use surged, but the biggest buzz was the news that AI chatbots made a noticeable impact: customers enlisted bots to dig up the bargains. Those who followed a bot’s recommendation were 38% more likely to make a purchase. (Adobe, Newsweek, Inc)

Third Watch:

😍 Watching an electric blue eel wiggle its way underwater is a delight

📻 From a simpler time? A radio toilet paper holder

🐦‍⬛ Crows can hold a grudge

And…

A group of nuns sends Christmas cards to abortion-clinic workers every year. Abby Johnson—a former abortion nurse who founded And Then There Were None, a pro-life organization and sponsor of the idea—says, “November and December are our busiest months, with our highest volume of calls from abortion workers who just can’t take it anymore.” One Sister said, ‘We pray that our Lord will bless them and get them into the hands that need them.’

Let us pray. Almighty and eternal God, You Son Jesus, triumphed over the prince of demons and freed us from bondage to sin. Help us to stand firm against every assault of Satan, and enable us always to do Your will; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,, now and forever. Amen.

Sign up for all the Sentinel newsletters (or unsubscribe to the ones you don’t want!):

✅ The Watches – one or twice weekly quick summaries of headlines

✅ Cross+Sentinel – an end-of-week round up of headlines with more more depth plus interesting links and funnies.

✅ Black Bag – longer-form writing to help equip the saints to spot lies, speak truth and live faithfully.

Go to your subscription settings on Substack and rock on!

Subscribe now

You can also make a one-off or recurring donation here. Thank you!

First Watch:

• HHS Study Challenges Gender Dysphoria Guidelines The Department of Health and Human Services has released a new peer-reviewed study challenging current guidelines for treating children with gender dysphoria. The publication found that chemical and surgical interventions did not reduce the risk of suicide. (WNG)

• Lawsuit Claims Facebook Tolerated Trafficking Time reports that an unsealed court filing in a lawsuit against Meta alleges Facebook tolerated sex trafficking on its platform. More than 1,800 plaintiffs are suing the parent companies behind Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube, arguing they “relentlessly pursued a strategy of growth at all costs,” disregarding the harm to children’s mental and physical health. (Time)

• Kidnapped Nigerian Students Escape Captors Fifty schoolchildren abducted from a Catholic school in Nigeria have escaped and been reunited with their families. Another 265 children and 12 teachers remain in captivity, with a military rescue operation underway. (BBC)

• NTSB Releases Initial Crash Findings The National Transportation Safety Board has released preliminary conclusions on the deadly UPS plane crash in Kentucky on November 4th. Investigators say the aircraft caught fire after an engine mount failed. Three pilots were killed, along with 11 people on the ground.(WNG)

• Woman Set on Fire in Chicago Train Attack A young woman was severely burned after a man set her on fire aboard a Chicago train. The assailant reportedly had 72 prior arrests.(WNG)

• Judge Dismisses Comey and James Indictments A federal judge has dismissed criminal indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that the interim prosecutor was improperly appointed. Wrangling over legal interpretations about whether there is scope to refile the suits continues. (Washington Times)

• Democrats Decline to Back Socialism Measure A number of Democrats declined to vote for a resolution condemning socialism. The measure was largely symbolic, but “let the record show”.. (Not the Bee)

• Derek Chauvin Seeks New Trial Former police officer Derek Chauvin, convicted in the death of George Floyd, is seeking to vacate his conviction and pursue a new trial after obtaining testimony from other officers that his actions followed standard training.(Alpha News, Not the Bee)

Second Watch:

Foreign Interference X rolled out an addition to the “About This Account” feature that revealed users’ locations — exposing large numbers of accounts pretending to be U.S.-based but actually run overseas. Many of the exposed accounts targeted conservatives, from clout-chasing grifters to operators trying to stir outrage on both pro- and anti-MAGA fronts. NBC noted that VPN routing could muddy the accuracy, but the pattern was hard to ignore. (Lotus via X, NBC, Not the Bee)

Somalians Given the Boot President Trump has signed an order revoking deportation protections for Somalis in the U.S., citing widespread fraud involving charities serving Minnesota’s Somali community for his action. Although roughly 90,000 Somalis live in the country, mainstream media says only around 700 people would be affected by the order. Commentators argue the administration could remove far more illegal immigrants if E-Verify rules were fully enforced. (Fox, PJ Media)

MTG has Left the Building Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has announced she will resign her seat, stepping down in January. Once a strong ally of the President, she has recently broken with him over economic policy and the slow drip of Epstein-related documents. Analysts are split on her motives, speculating she wants everything from a podcast to a run for governor. Tangle exemplified the mercurial MTG, described her as both a contributor to the “deterioration of civility” and a rare example of a citizen-legislator willing to walk away rather than entrench herself as a career politician. (ZeroHedge, BBC, Tangle)

Third Watch:

🦫 Inside the work of a dam manager

✈️ Why don’t jet engines melt?

🥧 How throwing pies for comedic affect became popular

And…

If there is discord at Thanksgiving, here’s praying it’s over pie, not politics. If I may be so bold: Who doesn’t like crust???

Let us pray. Merciful God, You have promised to those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life that they will dwell in the New Jerusalem, where the temple is the Lamb whose lamp lights the world. Prepare us to enter this heavenly city at the Supper You prepared for us here of the very body and blood of the Lamb, even as we participate now in the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sign up for all the Sentinel newsletters (or unsubscribe to the ones you don’t want!):

✅ The Watches – one or twice weekly quick summaries of headlines

✅ Cross+Sentinel – an end-of-week round up of headlines with more more depth plus interesting links and funnies.

✅ Black Bag – longer-form writing to help equip the saints to spot lies, speak truth and live faithfully.

Go to your subscription settings on Substack and rock on!

Subscribe now

You can also make a one-off or recurring donation here. Thank you!

First Watch:

• Democrats Urge Troops to Defy “Illegal Orders” Several Democrats told soldiers they don’t have to follow “illegal orders,” without giving examples. Trump blasted the move as “seditious” and called for consequences. (Libs of TikTok via X, P T Ward via X)

• Texas Labels CAIR and Muslim Brotherhood as Terror Groups Governor Greg Abbott designated both groups as foreign terrorist organizations. Supporters cheered the move but pressed him to halt land purchases for new mosques and planned Muslim communities. (Greg Abbott via X, Not the Bee)

• MBS Goes to Washington Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with President Trump, offering promises to boost America’s AI sector although no specifics were given. President Trump also met with soon-to-be mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, in a cordial affair, defending the avowed democratic social from “hostile questioning” by gathered media. (Semafor, The Guardian)

• Veteran Suicide Rate Continues to Fall Suicide among U.S. veterans has declined steadily since 2020, according to a new report. (Futurity)

• Cloudflare Outage Disrupts Major Sites A widespread Cloudflare outage knocked out access to X, ChatGPT, Shopify, and other major platforms around the world. (ZeroHedge, ABC)

• NJ Man Dies After Tick-Triggered Meat Allergy A New Jersey man died from what doctors believe was anaphylaxis caused by alpha-gal syndrome after a lone star tick bite. (NPR)

• BLS Won’t Release October Jobs Data The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the shutdown prevents it from issuing October’s report. September’s numbers showed both job growth and rising unemployment, so go figure. (The Hill, CNN)

• Faulty Wiring Blamed for Key Bridge Crash Investigators say an improperly installed wire caused the power failure that sent a ship into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Also, newly released estimates of the rebuild costs have doubled to $4–5 billion. (ABC News)

Second Watch:

Fraud, Fraud and More Fraud City Journal reports yet another massive fraud scheme tied to Minnesota’s Somali community—this time involving housing and Medicaid programs siphoning billions in taxpayer funds, with some money allegedly funneled to overseas terror groups. Earlier scams included fake autism service providers used as money-laundering fronts. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) has been indicted for stealing $5 million through her family’s healthcare company during a FEMA-funded COVID contract. Prosecutors say she used part of the haul to boost her 2021 campaign. (City Journal, WNG)

Epstein Files Countdown Begins Congress passed—and President Trump signed—a bill forcing the DOJ to release all Epstein-related documents within 30 days. Emails released recently revealed Larry Summers (former Treasury Secretary for President Clinton and former Harvard president) admitted he asked Epstein for advice on pursuing an affair with a younger mentee—the daughter of a Chinese Belt and Road official. He has now withdrawn from all public commitments, saying he’s ashamed of his actions. Although his actions are gross, commentators warn that many other’s lives could be ruined by the doc dump which may amount to political theater rather than actual accountability for the sake of victims.(The Guardian, ZeroHedge, Hot Air, ZeroHedge, The Federalist)

Hiding in Plain Sight New information from the anonymous hacker who uncovered extensive online posts from would-be assassin Thomas Crooks shows long-standing antipathy toward Trump and MAGA supporters—fueling questions about how he avoided the FBI’s radar. The recovered accounts also show Crooks occasionally used transgender pronouns and frequented “furry” forums. At the time, Biden’s DOJ downplayed his ideology and floated possible right-wing ties instead. (New York Post)

Third Watch:

🧀 Chefs make Mac and cheese

🔭 Ancient theories of auroras

🖍️ Each generation’s favorite Crayola color

And…

Eyes on the prize: CS Lewis wrote, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” I thought of that when I heard Luke Bower’s “Not My Home”. Keeping our minds fixed on the surety of our eternal home energizes us for fighting that good fight.

Being heavenly-minded can bring much earthly good!

Let us pray. Lord Jesus, You call heaven and all the saints and apostles and prophets to rejoice when those who pretend to be the true Church are brought to judgement. Help us to discern between what is true and what is false, always knowing that Your kingdom comes through humility and suffering and that the truth of the Gospel is found in You alone; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

Sign up for all the Sentinel newsletters (or unsubscribe to the ones you don’t want!):

✅ The Watches – one or twice weekly quick summaries of headlines

✅ Cross+Sentinel – an end-of-week round up of headlines with more more depth plus interesting links and funnies.

✅ Black Bag – longer-form writing to help equip the saints to spot lies, speak truth and live faithfully.

Go to your subscription settings on Substack and rock on!

Subscribe now

You can also make a one-off or recurring donation here. Thank you!

First Watch:

• Government Reopens Lawmakers have agreed to reopen the government after a record-breaking 41-day shutdown. Several Democrats joined Republicans to get the bill through the Senate. It is not clear what was gained, as Ben Domenech notes, calling it the “shutdown about nothing.” (DailyWire, The Transom)

• Trump Floats 50-Year Loans President Trump frustrated supporters hoping for relief on housing and cost-of-living pressures after suggesting government handouts and 50-year loans. Critics note longer loans simply mean more interest for lenders, pressing the GOP to be more imaginative when it comes to get the economy working for more Americans. (The Federalist, Not the Bee)

• Credit Card Giants Settle Visa and Mastercard have agreed to pay $38 billion to retailers who accused them of charging excessive swipe fees. (Reuters, Fox)

• Farewell to the Penny The U.S. Mint has pressed its final penny. Ending the 230-year run will save taxpayers an estimated $56 million annually.(WNG)

• Florida Man Arrested A Florida man has been arrested after allegedly threatening violence against several non-denominational churches. (WNG)

• Military History in Decline The National Academy of Scholars warns that the collapse of military-history education in colleges and service academies is harming the nation.(NAS)

• Tehran’s Water Crisis Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says the nation’s water shortages are so severe that Tehran may eventually need to be evacuated. Tehran’s mayor said the idea of moving 90 million people is a joke. (ZeroHedge)

• Bridge Collapses Weeks After Opening Spectacular footage shows part of a newly completed bridge linking China and Tibet collapsing in a landslide. The region is known for its seismic instability.(The Guardian)

Second Watch:

Berkeley Meltdown Antifa protestors have thrown smoke bombs and fireworks, shouting Charlie Kirk taunts and expletives to disrupt a TPUSA event at UC Berkeley. A few protestors clashed with police, and at least one attendee was injured in a scuffle after a rioter reportedly ripped off his cross necklace. (New York Post, Not the Bee)

Wrong Case for Obergefell Challenge The Supreme Court has declined to hear a case challenging the 2015 Obergefell ruling. Activists are treating the move as a rebuke to anyone hoping the Court might overturn gay marriage. But court watchers note that refusing this case isn’t a victory for the ruling—especially since Justice Thomas has already hinted Obergefell rests on shaky foundations, much like Roe did before it fell. (The Federalist) The Court will, however, hear a case on whether states may accept mail-in ballots after Election Day. (The Federalist)

The Tangled Web New documents from the House Judiciary Committee show the DOJ’s January 6 investigation, “Arctic Frost”, reached far further than previously acknowledged. Officials flagged numerous people tied to Trump’s first term for investigation despite no criminal activity nominated. This follows revelations that the FBI probe sought private banking and phone records from GOP lawmakers—under gag orders imposed on telecom companies by Judge James Boasberg. (Washington Examiner, Deseret News)

Former State Department official Mike Benz argues these efforts are part of a broader push by government-funded NGO, the Atlantic Council, to suppress conservative populist movements globally. He says the revelation has shown that weapons manufacturers, and aligned billionaires have significant influence over foreign elections. (Grok via X, After Party via YouTube)

In related news, the DOJ is reviewing a referral accusing former CIA Director John Brennan of lying to Congress about the Steele dossier that fueled the debunked Trump–Russia collusion saga. (Front Page).

Third Watch:

🌞 The European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter has captured a close up of the sun’s magnetic field at its South Pole. The sun’s magnetic pole flips every 11 years perhaps explains the amount of auroras showing up in unexpected places

🪵 How tiny woodpeckers pack such a punch

🎸 The frying pan beginnings of the electric guitar

And…

I love this Instagram account. Proud dad Stephen Spencer turns his toddler’s songs into sweet yacht rock songs. Hug your kids and listen to their stories!

Let us pray. Eternal God, merciful Father, You have appointed You Son as judge of the living and the dead. Enable us to wait for the day of His return with our eyes fixed on the kingdom prepared for Your own from the foundation of the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

Sign up for all the Sentinel newsletters (or unsubscribe to the ones you don’t want!):

✅ The Watches – one or twice weekly quick summaries of headlines

✅ Cross+Sentinel – an end-of-week round up of headlines with more more depth plus interesting links and funnies.

✅ Black Bag – longer-form writing to help equip the saints to spot lies, speak truth and live faithfully.

Go to your subscription settings on Substack and rock on!

Subscribe now

You can also make a one-off or recurring donation here. Thank you!

First Watch:

• Vatican clarifies Mary’s role A new doctrinal statement instructs Catholics not to call Mary “co-redemptrix,” affirming that Jesus’ sacrifice alone is sufficient. (WNG)

• SCOTUS upholds sex-at-birth rule The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that the State Department may list biological sex on passports, saying it reflects “a historical fact” and does not violate equal protection. (Epoch Times)

• UPS cargo plane crash kills 11 The left wing caught fire after takeoff, sending the plane into nearby buildings and igniting fuel stores. Authorities are investigating but a number of people remain unaccounted for. Satellite images show a path of destruction across the crash site at Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville. (The Guardian, Lexington Herald and Leader)

• SNAP rolls back ineligible recipients Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says 700,000 people have been removed from food aid rolls, citing examples of people with multiple registrations and deceased recipients. Reports say illegal immigrants can still take advantage of the scheme if they have U.S.-born children. (ZeroHedge, The Federalist)

• Wisconsin bill targets VPNs in porn crackdown Lawmakers aim to block minors from porn sites, but critics say banning VPNs misunderstands how the internet works. (Reclaim the Net) | U.K. traffic to PornHub has fallen over 70% since age verification began, though users may be switching to VPNs or to sites with less stringent checks. (BBC)

• AI deals lift tech stocks Snap shares rose after announcing a Perplexity AI integration, while Apple will reportedly pay Google $1 billion annually to embed Gemini AI in its devices. (Gadget Hacks)

• Explosion at Harvard Medical School Two young men have been arrested after an explosion on campus. No injuries were reported and the building has reopened.(ABC News)

• Dick Cheney dead at 84 The former vice president and defense secretary helped shape U.S. policy during both Bush presidencies and was a key player in expanding the Gulf War into Iraq. (The Briefing podcast)

• Federal worker turns hot dog vendor A furloughed D.C. employee is making the best of the shutdown by living his dream behind a hot dog cart. (NPR)

• Las Vegas police add Cybertrucks to fleet The department has begun using Tesla’s new electric trucks for patrols. (CNBC)

Second Watch:

My take on New York mayoral election. “There may be difficult times ahead, but Christians must stop apologizing for truth and proclaim it boldly. “

Third Watch:

🦓 Why don’t we ride zebras?

⛰️ Inside NORAD bunker, 1966

📮 Remote post offices around the world

And… living among the leaves! Modern treehouses look like so much fun!

Let us pray. Lord Jesus, when You were lifted up on the cross to die, the world was rocked with the birth pains of Your new creation. Focus our eyes on Your holy cross that we may see it as a tree of life preparing us for Your final coming in judgement as the Son of Man; for You live and reign, one God now and forever. Amen.

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✅ Black Bag – longer-form writing to help equip the saints to spot lies, speak truth and live faithfully.

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Subscribe now

You can also make a one-off or recurring donation here. Thank you!

First Watch:

• Melissa hits the Caribbean Hurricane Melissa has been downgraded slightly after slamming Jamaica with 175 mph winds and torrential rain. The monster storm has crossed Cuba and is now threatening other Caribbean nations. The death toll remains uncertain, but dozens are feared dead.(WNG) Footage from inside the eye. Crazy videos out of Jamaica

• Harvard’s Grade Giveaway Harvard’s own paper reports that students are distressed about the impact of the school’s focus on tackling grade inflation. “About 60% of the grades handed out in classes for the university’s undergraduate program are A’s, up from 40% a decade ago and less than a quarter 20 years ago.” (Harvard Crimson, Fortune)

• Utah Homeless Center Utah plans a 1,700-capacity facility offering housing, treatment, and job training for the homeless. Critics compare it to a Nazi concentration camp, but Gov. Spencer Cox says, “We’ve been failing for so long and I’m not willing to give up. This is the best option we have.” (Deseret News)

• Union Tells Democrats: Take the Deal The largest federal workers’ union is urging Senate Democrats to back the Republican-proposed clean spending bill to reopen the government, now entering its fourth week. Food stamp benefits are set to lapse over the weekend. (NBC)

• Wind is Worst A new report finds wind turbines are wreaking havoc on ecosystems—killing raptors, bats, and insects while disrupting predator patterns and food chains. (Daily Sceptic)

• Seuss on the Loose A newly discovered Dr. Seuss manuscript will be published next year. (Nice News)

• No Debate The head of Oxford’s debate society who celebrated the murder of Charlie Kirk has been voted out by his peers.(Not the Bee)

Second Watch:

The President Wasn’t Signing A new report from the GOP-led House Oversight Committee has concluded that several of former President Joe Biden’s executive actions were authorized by aides using an auto-pen. The committee recommended rescinding a number of those orders—mostly pardons and commutations. During testimony, former Biden strategist Mike Donilon admitted he would have received a $4 million bonus if Biden won reelection in 2024. Democrats dismissed the investigation as political theater, insisting the President personally approved each order. Still, the report paints a picture of a presidency carefully staged around Biden’s infirmity—from limiting his walking distance in public, to reliance on notecards, to quiet talks about a wheelchair. (WNG, Free Beacon, The Federalist)

Islam vs Omnicause Another reminder that would-be mayor of New York Zohran Mamdani is less driven by his socialist ideology than he is dedicated to Islam. He forced a tear while talking about Islamaphobia in NYC: “Mamdani tried to pretend that his primary concern was affordability in New York City, but he is making it clear that he is an identitarian through and through.” Polls show disgraced former mayor Andrew Cuomo closing in on Mamdani’s lead. Over 400,000 New Yorkers have already voted early ahead of this weekend’s election. (Washington Examiner, Mediaite, Fox)

Bill Gates Steps Off the Climate Ledge News flash: CO₂ may not end humanity after all. Bill Gates—the climate alarmist turned “maybe not” guy—admitted this week that global warming might not be as catastrophic as once believed. Gates now says the real threats are disease and poverty, problems that realists will tell you can be mitigated with cheap, reliable energy—like fossil fuels and nuclear power. A recent Department of Energy report under Trump echoes the same theme: “aggressive mitigation strategies may be misdirected.” Predictably, climate crusaders like Michael Mann are accusing Gates of going rogue. (Epoch Times, Huff Post)

Third Watch:

🥔 The jacket potato jacket

🔋 Nike’s got powered trainers

👑 Day in the life of a French jewellery thief

🏀 Oof. “Giannis walked across the state of Wisconsin without a travel call”

And..

A book by French authors arguing for God’s existence has been recently published in English, sparking new conversation about science’s testimony to the Creator. While the book reportedly covers some ground that will be familiar, the author’s interact with the work of mathematician Kurt Gödel who argued that complex systems cannot prove their consistency using only their own rules. One of the authors, Michel-Yves Bolloré, wrote the scientists must wrestle with the meaning of so much new data, “including thermodynamics, the theory of relativity, and quantum mechanics..heat death, and fine-tuning of the universe.” The evidence that the universe had a beginning means “it’s getting harder for scientists not to believe in God.”

Let us pray. Lord God, heavenly Father, since we cannot stand before You relying on anything we have done, help us trust in Your abiding grace and live accordingly to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

Sign up for all the Sentinel newsletters (or unsubscribe to the ones you don’t want!):

✅ The Watches – one or twice weekly quick summaries of headlines

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✅ Black Bag – longer-form writing to help equip the saints to spot lies, speak truth and live faithfully.

Go to your subscription settings on Substack and rock on!

Subscribe now

You can also make a one-off or recurring donation here. Thank you!

First Watch:

• Out of the Mouths of Talk Show Hosts? Bill Maher has drawn attention to the horrific slaughter of Christians in Nigeria. “Where are the kids protesting this?” he asked. According to Open Doors’ World Watch List, nearly 70 percent of all Christians killed for their faith last year were martyred in Nigeria.(Not The Bee, Open Doors)

• Secret Service Discovery at Palm Beach The U.S. Secret Service discovered what appears to be a hunting platform in a tree with a clear line of sight to where the President exits Air Force One at Palm Beach Airport. Although it may have been set up months ago, there aren’t exactly many deer roaming near the airport. (Not the Bee)

• Ballroom for the White House President Trump’s dream of adding a ballroom to the White House is coming true, with demolition beginning in the East Wing. Presidents have long made additions to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue—from the Oval Office and Rose Garden to the indoor pool and Obama’s basketball court. (The Hill, New York Post)

• Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioter Arrested Again A man pardoned by President Trump for participating in the January 6th riots has been arrested after allegedly threatening to kill Senate Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. (New York Post)

• US–Australia Minerals Pact The U.S. and Australia have signed a deal to boost investment in the mining of critical minerals. Australia also agreed to purchase helicopters and underwater drones from the U.S. (Daily Wire)

• Peanut Policy Pays Off Ten years on, the advice to introduce peanuts early seems to have paid off. A new study shows peanut allergies in high-risk children dropped by 40% after the 2015 recommendations.(CBS)

• The Power of Inconvenience A man invented a six-pound mobile phone case to curb his addiction. “You can’t as easily take it with you to the bathroom or on a walk. You have to actually leave it behind more often, which also means less screen time.” (Daily Dot)

• Louvre Heist Update French authorities say they are confident they will recover priceless jewelry stolen from the Louvre. Using a ladder mounted on a truck to enter the building, three or four thieves took under ten minutes to make off with the treasures. NBC)

• Bangladeshi Airport Blaze A huge fire ripped through the cargo complex of a Bangladeshi airport, grounding flights and destroying around $1 billion worth of stock meant for export and local distribution. (SCMP)

Second Watch:

No Kings, Thanks—We’re Americans Organizers say millions turned out to attend events across the country, though arguments raged online over the numbers. The whiteness and oldness of the crowds were fairly evident. Conservative media questioned whether the movement is truly grassroots—a suspicion seemingly confirmed by viral clips of attendees unable (or unwilling) to explain what they were protesting. (WNG, ZeroHedge)

Global Anglicans Draw the Line Conservative Anglicans who formed the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) have officially parted from the Church of England. While churches in Africa and the Global South have long challenged Canterbury over doctrinal drift, the appointment of a progressive woman as Archbishop was the final straw. GAFCON’s chairman, Rev Laurent Mbanda, said congregations are welcome to join if they affirm Scriptural inerrancy and biblical sexuality. “We have not left the Anglican Communion; we are the Anglican Communion,” he wrote.
(WNG, GAFCon)

Third Watch:

🐢 Aww, that’s nice to know! Green sea turtles are no longer considered engendered

there is no turtle emoji..!

⚾ Major leagues baseballs have a short life of just 7 pitches

✂️ Vietnamese paper sculptor, Thiên Dinh, made this impressive dragon:

And..

Check out the reworked hymns! The lady behind Doxazomen Studios has made with her very cool stuff with her AI bot:

Ev’ry eye shall now behold him,
Robed in dreadful majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold him,
Pierced and nailed him to a tree,
Deeply wailing,
Deeply wailing,
Deeply wailing,
Shall the true Messiah see!

Let us pray. Almighty God, whom to know is everlasting life, grant us to know You Son, Jesus, to be the way, the truth, and the life that we may boldly confess Him to be the Christ and steadfastly walk in the way that leads to life eternal; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

Sign up for all the Sentinel newsletters (or unsubscribe to the ones you don’t want!):

✅ The Watches – one or twice weekly quick summaries of headlines

✅ Cross+Sentinel – an end-of-week round up of headlines with more more depth plus interesting links and funnies.

✅ Black Bag – longer-form writing to help equip the saints to spot lies, speak truth and live faithfully.

Go to your subscription settings on Substack and rock on!

Subscribe now

You can also make a one-off or recurring donation here. Thank you!

First Watch:

• Medal of Freedom for Kirk – Charlie Kirk has been posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Donald Trump, who said the nation had been “robbed of an extraordinary champion.” (Sky News)

• Tennessee Blast Death Toll Revised –The death toll after an explosion at a Tennessee explosives plant has been revised down to 16. Specialist investigators are still searching the site for clues as the small community mourns. (ABC)

• X Marks your spot – X is reportedly considering displaying the nation an account is based in on user profiles. (The Post Millennial)

• Silver Hits 1980s High – Silver has surged to its highest price since the 1980s, surpassing $50 an ounce.(Yahoo)

• Asthma vs. the Climate–Scientists have long claimed electric car use reduces incidence of asthma—but now CBS reports that inhalers are ruining the climate. (Science Direct, Not the Bee)

• Rubio Demands China Free Pastors –Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on China to release 30 pastors and staff from an underground church network. The Christians were reportedly detained during raids in several cities. (NPR, BBC)

• Netherlands Seizes Chinese Chipmaker–The Dutch government has taken control of a Chinese-owned semiconductor company based in the Netherlands, citing “serious governance shortcomings and actions.” Officials called it a “highly exceptional” move. (CNBC)

Second Watch:

Hostages Home, Hamas Cornered. All remaining living hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are home, with President Trump receiving a hero’s welcome in Israel. He pressured Hamas by backing Israel’s military push, while Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt added their own leverage—threatening to expel Hamas leaders and limit their future role in Gaza. Phase Two of the Trump plan calls for Hamas to disarm, but reports say tribal clashes have erupted as factions vie for power. Video of Hamas executing its enemies were posted online. There’s no formal contingency if Hamas refuses, though Trump warned it would be “made to” disarm. Observers say Trump’s success came by departing from previous styles of negotiating in the Middle East, focusing on shared interests over “shared values.” The last few weeks of this strategy has resulted in Iran weakened, Syria under new leadership, and Arab states like Saudi Arabia eager to trade with the U.S. We pray the peace holds. (Washington Examiner, Times of Israel, Daily Signal, Front Page, Times of Israel)

Qatar Joins U.S. at Idaho Air Base. The Department of War has announced a Qatari Air Force facility will be built at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. It will host Qatari fighter jets and pilots for joint training with U.S. forces. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defended the move, calling Qatar a “strong partner” and crediting its help in securing the release of Israeli hostages. (Fox)

MIT Rejects Trump’s Academic Compact MIT is the first university to reject President Trump’s proposed “Compact for Academic Excellence.” The plan would give schools priority federal funding in exchange for merit-based admissions, free speech protections, free tuition for lower-income students, and ideological neutrality. MIT president Sally Kornbluth called the plan “unworkable,” saying the school already upholds those principles—but critics like Chris Rufo argue her version of a “free marketplace of ideas” is quite different than how Joe Public would define it. (AP, Washington Examiner, City Journal)

Shutdown at Two Weeks and Counting. The 14th day of the federal government shutdown has come and gone, with no sign of compromise. Republicans are holding out for a clean bill that funds government at current levels, while Democrats refuse to drop temporary “Obamacare tax credits”. The pandemic-era subsidies were due to end this year. Meanwhile, blue states are quietly pulling back healthcare funding for illegal immigrants. Republicans have accused Democrats of programs for those with no legal status, but Democrats have consistently dismissed the claims. (The Hill, AEI, Washington Examiner, National Review)

Third Watch:

📷 Before the selfie, there was the photo booth, and it just turned 100

🍂 It may be that you’ve never tasted real cinnamon

🇺🇸 The oldest city in the U.S?

And…

Shirahama is a Japanese tourist town long known as a place where people go to end their lives by leaping from the cliffs into the sea. Pastor Yoichi Fujiyabu runs a small ministry there called The Telephone of Life—an unassuming phone booth overlooking the water. A sign beside it bears a paraphrase of Isaiah 43:4: “You are precious and honored in my sight. I love you.” Inside, a cross draped with flowers hangs above a worn Japanese Bible and a bright green telephone. Pastor Fujiyabu and his congregation have persuaded more than 1,100 people to choose life instead. As he says, “God’s love is real—and it is here.”

Let us pray. O God, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of Your final judgement, we may be stirred up to holiness of living here and dwell with you in perfect joy hereafter; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

Sign up for all the Sentinel newsletters (or unsubscribe to the ones you don’t want!):

✅ The Watches – one or twice weekly quick summaries of headlines

✅ Cross+Sentinel – an end-of-week round up of headlines with more more depth plus interesting links and funnies.

✅ Black Bag – longer-form writing to help equip the saints to spot lies, speak truth and live faithfully.

Go to your subscription settings on Substack and rock on!

Subscribe now

You can also make a one-off or recurring donation here. Thank you!

First Watch:

• Explosives and anti-Christian manifesto found outside D.C. church — A man arrested outside a Washington church was found with explosive devices and a manifesto expressing hatred toward Christians, Jews, and immigration authorities. (Post Millennial)

• Transport Secretary warns against marijuana legalization — Sean Duffy says reclassifying marijuana would be a mistake, citing data linking THC intoxication to rising traffic deaths. (Post Millennial)

• Virginia AG nominee’s violent messages surface — Leaked messages show Democrat nominee Jay Jones wishing death on a Republican opponents and his children. He has apologized but remains in the race. (Not the Bee)

• FBI firings – Kash Patel has dismantled a unit that tracked the phone records of eight Republican lawmakers during the special investigation carried out by Jack Smith. Director Patel said “those who acted unethically” had been fired. (National Review)

• Wisconsin turning wood to jet fuel — Lawmakers are backing plans to revive the state’s pulpwood industry by producing synthetic jet fuel from wood pulp. (WPR)

• Syria holds ‘indirect elections’ under interim president — Local committees voted for MPs while interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa will appoint one-third of parliament. Syrians “‘realise that this is not a general election, and … are aware that Syria cannot hold a general election’ because of the destruction wrought by 14 years of war.” (Al Jazeera)

• Editor fired after publishing skeptical climate paper — The editor who approved a study suggesting climate change may not be as dangerous as claimed has been dismissed. (Andy May)

Second Watch:

Banned Books Week –The American Library Association has launched its annual Banned Books Week, first established in the early ’80s to highlight censorship. FrontPage says the group’s modern mission is less about free expression and more about attacking “America’s Judeo-Christian morality…and to sexualize our children at the youngest possible age.” The ALA no doubt forgot that the most banned, censored, and challenged book in the world remains the Bible. (Front Page Magazine)

Chicago Turns Its Back on Border Agents– Attacks on immigration officers and vehicles continue nationwide, but Chicago is in the spotlight after police were instructed not to assist when protesters surrounded border patrol agents with vehicles. Meanwhile, a federal judge in Oregon temporarily blocked President Trump from deploying National Guard troops to protect an ICE facility in Portland. Protests from Democrat-run states against the federal intervention in immigration enforcement seem to have forgotten how the Biden administration won at Supreme Court by arguing that border enforcement was federal responsibility, forcing Texas and other states to roll back deterrents. (ZeroHedge, CNN, Forum Together, ScotusBlog)

Pope’s Climate Blessing – At the Raising Hope for Climate Justice conference, Pope Francis blessed a block of ice and urged attendees to pressure global leaders to intensify climate action. He also said recently that one cannot truly be pro-life while supporting the death penalty or the “inhumane treatment of immigrants in the United States.” The tech bros at Priate Wires lamented that Rome “finally got an American pope and he’s too Trump deranged to make an impact.” (Pirate Wires, Catholic Philly, MSNBC, AP)

Kavanaugh’s Would-Be Killer Gets 8 Years –The man convicted of attempting to murder Justice Brett Kavanaugh has been sentenced to eight years in prison—far below the 30 years sought by prosecutors. Judge Deborah Boardman cited Nicholas Roske’s decision to turn himself in as well as his transgender identity in her sentencing. Judge Boardman made it worse by saying she was “heartened” that the “terrible infraction” had helped Roske’s religious family “accept their daughter for who she is.” Despite the judge’s suggestion that Roske would be better placed to receive cross-sex hormones in a women’s prison, Attorney-General Pam Bondi said she will appeal the sentence, insisting the placement “is not going to happen.” (Fox, Post Millennial, Not the Bee)

Third Watch:

🪼 Critters that lurk in the depths

🔢 One of the remaining few mechanical calculators invented by Blaise Pascal is up for auction. And a vid of how it works. (The calculator, that is, not the auction..)

Owls chilling with St Peter feature in a bird photography competition:

Let us pray. Almighty, eternal God, in the Word of Your apostles and prophets You have proclaimed to us Your saving will. Grant us faith to believe Your promises that we may receive eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

Sign up for all the Sentinel newsletters (or unsubscribe to the ones you don’t want!):

✅ The Watches – one or twice weekly quick summaries of headlines

✅ Cross+Sentinel – an end-of-week round up of headlines with more more depth plus interesting links and funnies.

✅ Black Bag – longer-form writing to help equip the saints to spot lies, speak truth and live faithfully.

Go to your subscription settings on Substack and rock on!

Subscribe now

You can also make a one-off or recurring donation here. Thank you!

First Watch:

• Kirk Funeral Coverage – Highlights from Kirk’s funeral have been circulating online, drawing comparisons to “religious Right” events decades ago, though critics derided it as resembling a “Nazi rally,” claiming salutes were everywhere.(Not the Bee, Not the Bee)

• Secret Service Disrupts Telecom Threat – Agents uncovered and disabled a network powerful enough to “shut down the cellular network in New York City,” discovered near the UN General Assembly venue. Intent and timing remain unclear. (BBC, WNG)

• Trump Golf Course Assailant Found Guilty – Ryan Routh, who attempted to assassinate former President Trump last year, was convicted. He briefly tried to stab himself with a pen after the verdict but returned to court unhurt.(Sky)

• State of Theology Survey – Ligonier’s 2025 survey found evangelicals showing confusion on key doctrines. (WNG)

• Samsung Fridges to Show Ads – Smart fridges from Samsung will now run ads directly on their screens. (The Verge)

Second Watch:

Tylenol Trouble – President Trump and top medical officials unveiled a long-awaited report on autism causes. Headlines focused on a possible link between Tylenol use in pregnancy and autism. Vaccine skeptics were underwhelmed, saying most of the findings of the report are known in their circles. But they welcomed proposals to break up the childhood vaccine schedule, spacing shots over years and delaying some, such as HepB, until age 12 or later. (Science Daily, EpochTimes)

A Half-Return – Jimmy Kimmel returned to air after 400 actors appealed to Disney over free speech concerns. Affiliates Sinclair and Nexstar refuse to air him, pushing the FCC to examine national network control over locals. Kimmel’s comeback was muted: he noted Erika Kirk’s forgiveness of her husband’s killer but offered no apology himself. (Variety, New York Post, Sinclair, Washington Examiner)

ICE Attack – A new California law bans local and federal officers, including ICE, from wearing face coverings like gaiters and ski masks. Newsom called it a stand against “authoritarian tendencies,” taunting ICE to “unmask!..what are you afraid of?” Agents say they use masks to avoid doxxing amid rising violence. Days later, a rooftop sniper attacked an ICE building and blacked-out van, killing one detainee and wounding two before taking his own life. No Immigrations staff were injured. However, the attack is the latest in a string of attacks on ICE buildings. (Epoch Times, Homeland Security, BBC)

Third Watch:

❣️ Save the semicolons!

🦓 The IgNobel prize goes to…cows painted with stripes to avoid flies?

🍩 The world’s first inflatable concert hall

The Bible has better stories than Hollywood. Prove me wrong..

From The AI Bible Official via X

Let us pray. Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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✅ Black Bag – longer-form writing to help equip the saints to spot lies, speak truth and live faithfully.

Go to your subscription settings on Substack and rock on!

Subscribe now

You can also make a one-off or recurring donation here. Thank you!

First Watch:

• Church Attendance Surge – Social media is filled with posts about people going to church following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. (Not the Bee)

• Senate Rule Change – Senate Republicans voted to change confirmation rules for Senate-appointed positions, accusing Democrats of slow-walking the process. With around 250 Trump nominees still unconfirmed, non-cabinet positions will now be voted in batches. (WNG)

• TikTok Framework – U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said a framework has been agreed with Beijing for TikTok to divest from its Chinese owner, ByteDance. President Trump has continued to postpone banning the app by executive order, despite Congress voting to do so last year. (BBC)

• Terror Charges Dropped – A New York judge dismissed terror charges against Luigi Mangione, accused of killing health CEO Brian Thomson last year. Judge Gregory Carro said that although Mangione showed animus toward health insurers, “it does not follow that his goal was to intimidate and coerce a civilian population.” (Hot Air)

• Bloody Sunday Trial – The first trial of a former British soldier accused of murder over the Bloody Sunday massacre has begun in Belfast. A 1972 inquiry following the killings, in which British soldiers opened fire on protestors, cleared the soldiers of wrongdoing. (Irish Times)

• Taliban Prisoner Talks – The Taliban said it has agreed with U.S. envoys to exchange American prisoners still held in Afghanistan. The White House declined comment. (ABC News)

Second Watch:

Kirk Suspect Charged – The man accused of killing Charlie Kirk has been charged in Utah County with seven felonies, including firearms charges and committing a violent offense in the presence of children. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Utah governor, Spencer Cox confirmed that Robinson was in a relationship with his roommate, a trans-identified man. Robinson reportedly confessed in a Discord chat that he had shot Kirk, while the FBI is widening its investigation into online platforms where posts suggest some in transgender chat rooms knew it was planned. In related news, two men were arrested for placing an explosive device under a Fox News van in Utah, where outlets were covering Kirk’s assassination. (Washington Examiner, Not the Bee, Twitchy, Washington Free Beacon)

Bondi stumbles on “Hate Speech” – U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi drew criticism from free speech advocates all across the political spectrum after suggesting the Justice Department would come after anyone using “hate speech.” She later said she was referring to “speech that crosses the line into threats of violence.” A number of conservative podcasters pointed out that violent threats are already illegal and lamented that using rhetoric of “hate speech” discredits conservative commitment to free speech. Steve Deace said we should be smashing progressive “shibboleths” not “rebranding them.” (Reclaim the Net, Steve Deace Show via YouTube)

Poll: Men vs Women Priorities – A new poll shows stark contrasts between the priorities of young men and women. Conservative men ranked marriage and children as their highest priority out of 13 options, while liberal women placed it at the bottom. Commentators note this may reflect decades of feminist messaging that framed “motherhood as drudgery.” The culture has shaped the gender war, now the gender war is shaping our culture. (The Spectator Australia)

Russian Drone in Romania – Romania says a Russian drone has breached its airspace, the second NATO country to report such an incursion. President Trump said he is “ready” to sanction Russia more heavily but is waiting for NATO to stop buying its oil and gas. (BBC)

Third Watch:

🫕 Things from a 70s kitchen that are no more

📌 The Geo Guessr championships are wild

🎩 Why people stopped wearing hats

🌭 The skinny on Hot Dog University

And..

Media outlets are reporting that Britain’s Unite the Kingdom march was attended by 100,000 to 150,000 people. The media says a lot of things… Suffice it to say, a lot of Brits turned out to protest mass immigration and display their national pride. We should pray that the powerful would truly care for those under them or that Jesus would raise up better men to take their place.

Let us pray. Let Your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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✅ The Watches – one or twice weekly quick summaries of headlines

✅ Cross+Sentinel – an end-of-week round up of headlines with more more depth plus interesting links and funnies.

✅ Black Bag – longer-form writing to help equip the saints to spot lies, speak truth and live faithfully.

Go to your subscription settings on Substack and rock on!

Subscribe now

You can also make a one-off or recurring donation here. Thank you!

First Watch:

• Jets to the Caribbean – President Trump has sent fighter jets to the Caribbean amidst tensions with Venezuela over U.S. targeting of drug cartel operations. (CBS)

• Trump Assassination Trial – Jurors are being chosen for the trial of Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to kill Donald Trump on a Florida golf course last year. (AP)

• Mask Alert in SF – San Francisco health officials recommend mask-wearing again after a single COVID-related death. (Front Page)

• AI Goggles for Army – Tech company Rivet has been awarded a contract to develop AI-powered glasses for the U.S. Army. (Defense One)

• Social Media Riots – Nepal’s social media ban peaked protests that have left 19 dead. Protestors believe the bans–”in the name of tackling fake news, hate speech and online fraud”–were being used to cover corruption and lavish lifestyles of politicians. (BBC)

• Ukraine Security Pledge – French President Emmanuel Macron says that 26 countries have signed on to provide security guarantees for Ukraine. (Politico)

• Pearl Harbor Log Found – A rare logbook from Pearl Harbor, documenting events before and after the attack, has been discovered in a storage box. (Smithsonian) | Lost Nobel Patents – A dozen missing patents belonging to Alfred Nobel have been uncovered in a Swedish home. (France24)

Second Watch:

Visa Violations at Hyundai Battery Plant – Between 450–475 workers were detained at Hyundai and LG Energy’s battery plant in Bryan County, GA, during a federal raid. Nearly 300 were South Koreans who overstayed short-term or holiday visas. None of the detainees were directly employed by Hyundai, and all will be repatriated. The plant has been under investigation for months, after the deaths of two workers raised concerns about poor conditions. (WNG, Fox, Prospect)

Ukrainian Refugee Murder Ignored by National Media – Shocking footage has surfaced of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, being stabbed to death on a Charlotte train two weeks ago. The suspect, a homeless man with a long rap sheet, whose family sought to have him institutionalized, allegedly said he “got that white girl.” While local media covered the story extensively, national outlets downplayed it, focusing instead on the pitfalls of public surveillance footage, “MAGA narratives” and racial dynamics. (New York Post, PJ Media, Outback)

Anthropic Pays $1.5B to Authors – AI company Anthropic will pay $1.5 billion in compensation to authors whose books were used to train its models. While a judge ruled that using books for AI training falls under fair use, Anthropic’s use of pirated copies sourced online tipped the scales. “This settlement marks the beginning of a necessary evolution toward a legitimate, market-based licensing scheme for training data,” the judge said. (NPR) | Midjourney Sued Over Batman and Superman – Warner Bros. is suing AI-image generator Midjourney for allegedly using characters like Batman and Superman without a license. The case could set a precedent for how copyright applies to AI-generated images. (TechCrunch)

Trump’s Epstein Ties Revisited – The Wall Street Journal published a saucy birthday greeting reportedly from Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized Trump’s disdain for the disgraced financier, revealing Trump had once agreed to help the FBI take down sex traffickers as an “informant”. (Red State, NewsNation)

Trans Athlete Drops Supreme Court Case – A transgender-identifying male student has withdrawn his appeal to play on a women’s college sports team. The case, set for the Supreme Court, would have challenged Idaho’s ban on male athletes competing in female categories. His lawyer cited “negative publicity” as the reason for withdrawal, saying his priority is now graduating and “living a healthy and safe life.” (CNN, Scotus Blog)

Third Watch:

📳 The demise of musical ringtones

🌆 A time-lapse Minecraft build of the notorious walled city of Kowloon

🚘 Gotta be the fanciest go-karts you’ve ever seen

A good part of the world was treated to a blood moon lunar eclipse over the weekend:

Let us pray. Lord Jesus, light of the world, You shine with the brightness o the sun in the darkness of our corked and twisted generation. Give us strength to shine as lights in the world as we live out our baptismal life by serving our neighbors with thanksgiving and joy as sacrificial offerings of mercy and love; for You live an reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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