007 Pentecost 15: Keep the Faith
“Who is like the Lord our God Who dwells on high, Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth?” ~ Psalm 113
Hello dear Readers,
The news ain’t slowing, is it? This edition was getting longer and longer as the week ticked over, so I’ve put my thoughts on how identity politics breeds childishness as its own link:
“Is it any surprise that those who make gods of their emotions lose control of them? Those who make idols become like them—as the psalmist reminds us—capricious, demanding, indifferent to the suffering of those around them”
I’ve got three Decoder round-ups on Charlie Kirk, Jimmy Kimmel and Trump’s Antifa play, with all the usual headlines below. But there will be shortcut links at the webpage if you just want to skip to your favorite sections.
Section shortcuts: Life, Immigration, Education, Finance, Technology, Health, Philosophy, Creation, Science, War, World News and Quick Hits
Don’t miss Pastor Fisk’s rules for ruling and encouragement from Pastor Wolfmueller.
These are mad days, but Jesus knows,
Frisby
Noise Decoder
Charlie Kirk Killer Investigations
Authorities last week released new details about the man accused of the killing. Tyler Robinson’s mother told investigators he had become increasingly influenced by transgender and left-wing ideology. Reports also indict his immersion in gay pornography gaming and “furry” culture as formative. Investigators confirmed he was in a “romantic” relationship with his roommate, a trans-identifying man. The FBI said it is expanding its investigation into Robinson’s online associations after posts suggested that some in transgender chat groups may have known what was planned. A note reportedly written by Robinson claimed he had the opportunity to target Kirk and intended to follow through.
Two men have been arrested in Utah for placing an explosive device under a Fox News van in Utah. Media outlets were present in the area to cover Kirk’s assassination. Also, a 70-year-old man initially arrested on suspicion of killing Charlie Kirk has now been charged with possession of child pornography. He was also charged with obstructing justice for falsely claiming he was the assassin immediately after the shooting, apparently hoping to distract police.
The fallout has continued online. Dozens of individuals who gloated about Kirk’s death on social media have lost their jobs after conservative influencers and lawmakers flagged the posts to employers. A number of companies advised their employees to watch what they post online. Companies said certain comments violated codes of conduct or rose to the level of incitement, though critics have raised concerns about free speech suppression.
Turning Point USA reported a surge of interest following Kirk’s death, with thousands of requests to form new chapters at high schools and universities. Some 200,00 people turned out to mark his funeral on the weekend. The organization voted unanimously to appoint Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow, as its new leader. Her full remarks, delivered after Kirk’s death, can be found here.
Antifa On Notice
President Trump announced last week that he is designating Antifa as a terrorist group. NPR noted that Antifa — which it describes as a “diffuse, politically left movement” — does not fit the legal criteria for a terrorist organization. Current U.S. law only provides for the designation of foreign terrorist groups, not domestic ones.
Journalist Andy Ngo, who rose to prominence for documenting Antifa-linked protests in Portland during the George Floyd riots, has argued that Antifa operates more like an organization than a loose movement, pointing to its website, claims of membership, and a “massive network of non-profits” that help fund its activities. According to Ngo, those activities often involve serving as shock troops for left-wing causes, including transgender activism, harassment of immigration authorities, and pro-Palestinian demonstrations. He also noted that Antifa groups regularly clash with police in European countries, especially Germany and France, where Antifa’s French branch recently released a board game in which players attempt to radicalize others through violence.
Writing in City Journal, Tal Fortgang suggests the administration does have means of pursuing Antifa groups through existing law, including racketeering provisions and “fiscal sponsorship” rules in the tax code, which target groups based on actions rather than formal organizational structure.
Late Night Drama
Several ABC affiliates have suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show after he accused MAGA Republicans of grifting off Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The move sparked debate about free speech. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the suspension “what a dictator would do.” Some pointed to remarks by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, who told a podcast that Kimmel’s comments could merit investigation: “They have a license granted by us at the FCC, and that comes with it an obligation to operate in the public interest.” Critics argued this was evidence of government pressure to silence dissent. Telecom executives may want to keep the Administration happy, but declining late-night viewership may have presented an opportunity to cut ties.
Conservatives countered by pointing to previous examples where Democratic leaders pressured media companies to sideline right-leaning figures, including Tucker Carlson — and to Kimmel’s own applause for such moves.
As more details emerged, however, the decisive factor appears to be grassroots pressure campaigns instigated by commentators such as Auron McIntyre. McIntyre lambasted Kimmel’s remarks as not only in poor taste but “blatant lies” that encouraged radical leftist violence. Though some in the right wing cautioned against using the power of government in this way, McIntyre believes Kimmel’s actions breached broadcast codes: “This was not about stopping somebody who made a mean joke or something. Not even somebody who celebrated Charlie Kirk's death, though that would be heinous enough, but someone who's actively and maliciously lying to get more people killed, to cover up for terrorism, to enable more terrorism.” Coincidentally, a man was arrested after a drive-by shooting at an ABC affiliate TV station in Sacramento on Friday.
Looking to the cross: It sure seems that anger, violence, and discord are rising — but none of this should shake us. If anything, these turbulent days show how real the stakes are. This is no time for timid faith or half-hearted conviction. Stand firm, speak the truth without apology, and remember: the light shines brightest when the night grows darkest.
On the Radar
Tribes and Tongues
Immigration and Race
President Trump has continued pummelling boats reportedly running drugs to U.S. ports. A third cartel vessel was struck by American forces, killing three men. When asked for proof, Trump said cargo of “cocaine and fentanyl” was floating in the water. (Not the Bee, WUSA9 via YouTube, ABC) | Venezuelan human rights activist Thor Halvorssen appeared on The Fifth Column podcast last week, applauding President Trump’s actions. He said standing up against Nicolás Maduro is exactly what the region needs: “The legacy of this administration could easily be the end of communism in this hemisphere.” Halvorssen criticized the open-border policies of President Biden: “The Cubans emptied out their prisons because they wanted to get rid of..criminals. Maduro emptied out the Tren de Aragua because he wanted to…send them into the United States to be part of his machinery of selling Venezuelan drugs.” (We the Fifth)
Dearborn, Michigan has renamed a street in honor of a Lebanese journalist with known ties to Hamas. The choice is controversial because other local figures could have been honored instead, making it appear to some residents as a deliberate political statement. One resident who objected at a public meeting says the mayor told him he was “not welcome” and that his exit would be “celebrated.” (Free Beacon, Not the Bee)
An illegal Cuban immigrant with a “lengthy criminal history in the United States” has decapitated his boss for no apparent reason. (CBS Austin)
Metropolis
Politics and the State
Michigan lawmakers have introduced a bill that critics say would “criminalize vast portions of online speech, ban common privacy tools, and restrict depictions of transgender individuals in almost all public-facing content.” Sponsor Rep. Josh Schriver (R) argues the bill is needed to protect children, saying current obscenity laws are “outdated and rarely enforced.” (Reclaim the Net)
The US State Department has scrapped “all frameworks” used to counter foreign influence campaigns. A spokesman said the programs, created under President Obama, were “woefully ineffective” at achieving their stated goals. (Reclaim the Net)
Treasure
Money, Markets and Jobs
The U.S. Federal Reserve has cut its lending rate by 0.25%. Chairman Jerome Powell said the main hesitation in cutting further is concern over a weaker jobs market, but said more cuts are on their way. (BBC)
U.S. lawmakers are scrambling to avoid a government shutdown on October 1. A stopgap spending bill failed to win a majority, with Democrats opposing nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid and health insurance subsidy cuts. Senate Minority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said he will not make backroom deals, insisting he wants a “clean, nonpartisan, short-term continuing resolution” to return the Senate to a “regular order” where it considers appropriations instead of leaving everything to the last minute. (The Hill)
Reality Bytes
Digital Technology
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)
Penske Media, which owns Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Variety, sued Google last week, saying its AI summaries use its writing without consent and have reduced site traffic. Google argues that customers want summaries, but Penske says that it never agreed for its content to be used like that. Tech analyst Benedict Evans noted other possible factors, pointing out that affiliate-link traffic fell by a third in 2024 after Google cracked down on spammy pages. (CNN, Tedium)
Most of us are aware that AI bots can “lie” by making up facts, “presenting guesswork with confidence.” But now researchers say they need to combat “scheming”, where the LLM will “deceive” on purpose. (TechCrunch)
Oh great..Google’s Nano Banana “makes it harder to trust photos online.” (Fast Company)
How people are using ChatGPT. (The Hustle)
Google Chrome is getting vertical tabs. (Chrome Unboxed)
Lo-fi cool.. A new DC restaurant is requiring its guests to go phone free: “We just want you to be present and serve you in a real way — a new sort of old-school service.” (Axios)
Life
Birth, Death and Marriage
Fight and play: Matthew Crawford on the need for young men to earn honor, give deference and sate their competitive spirit. “As in his life on the screen, the shooter acts out a fantasy of omnipotence that has never come up against the civilizing resistance offered by other people: fighting and playing.” He says that “the difference between wanting to excel others and wanting to dominate others” gets conflated in our egalitarian culture, meaning those who wish to distinguish themselves by winning are treated as suspect. (Archedelia)
Rev Fisk’s rules for ruling:
Health
Medicine and Food
A new study has found the “first direct evidence” that cannabis use during pregnancy can cause chromosomal abnormalities but also that use before pregnancy can impact fertility. (Epoch Times)
New findings on hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women has challenged “black box” warnings based on previous studies. New evidence shows that timing of treatment is important and HRT can benefit women in perimenopause. (CBS)
A calf muscle is like a “second heart”. (Epoch Times)
The Elements
The Natural World
Drunken apes? A new study found that chimpanzees consume around two cocktail’s worth of booze daily from the fruit they consume. (CBS)
Some “gifted word learner” dogs “can not only fit objects into categories based on visual appearance, but also lump them together based on their functions.” (Yahoo)
Could antacids help combat acidity levels in the ocean? (The Hustle)
Hearts and Minds
Philosophy, Hacks and Human Connection
“Jesus never owned a wristwatch.” Todd Brewer points out that our obsession with time management can be a problem. He recommends setting aside time at the start of the day, which “in some senses sanctifies the rest of the busy day.” Brewer also says that reading the Bible immerses him in a world “so very different from the one I inhabit,” prompting reflection on what it means for life today.(Mockingbird)
You need to be bored. Allowing yourself to be bored can spark creative ideas, and reduce anxiety. Busy ness can rob people of the headspace to contemplate uncomfortable questions about why we exist and what life is for. (Harvard Business Review)
Why friendships end. A look at common reasons relationships drift apart, from changing priorities to unmet expectations. (Art of Manliness)
Learning
Homeschooling, Education and Classrooms
Ivy schools such as Harvard are reportedly mulling founding trade schools to meet conditions for recapturing funding currently withheld by the Trump admisnitraiton. “He wrote on Truth Social in May that he was considering slashing $3 billion in funding from Harvard and giving it to trade schools.” Education Department policymaker, Nick Moore, said that more funding for vocational schools is what America needs right now, noting that higher education is unhelpfully immune to market dynamics. (Financial Advisor)
Raising kids to be readers in a world of digital distractions. (Lit Hub)
Knowledge
Science and Data
Rendezvous Robotics startup is making self-assembling space structures. (Space News)
Blue eyes are a trick of the light! (Vice)
War and Rumors of War
Conflict and Weaponry
Russian jets violated Estonian airspace in what officials called an “unprecedentedly brazen” incursion. Three MiG-31 fighters crossed near Vaindloo Island for 12 minutes before being intercepted by Italian F-35s. Estonia has summoned NATO consultations under Article 4. (Reuters, ABC)
Romania says a Russian drone has breached its airspace, now the third 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)
Gazprom, the Russian energy company, has abruptly cut natural gas supplies to Armenia in what analysts describe as intimidation, as the country moves closer to NATO partners. (Eurasia)
President Trump has said he wants Afghanistan to have Bagram Airbase back in U.S. hands, noting its proximity to China. The base was abandoned after the disastrous 2021 withdrawal, marking the end of America’s longest war. The U.S. lost 13 soldiers and left billions of dollars worth of equipment behind. (NDTV)
China has warned Papua New Guinea and Australia not to sign a mutual defense agreement. (News)
Stories From Far Away
World News
🇬🇧 President Trump was given a royal welcome by the House of Windsor in London last week, though some Brits protested his U.K. trip. King Charles praised Trump for his efforts to find “solutions to some of the world’s most intractable conflicts.” (BBC)
🇷🇺 Alexei Navalny’s widow, Yulia, says lab reports show her husband was poisoned and did not die from illness, as Russian officials claim. (The Independent)
🇳🇵 Student groups across Nepal have taken to social media to debate who should be nominated to lead the country. Since becoming a republic in 2008, Nepal has had 14 governments. Student activists rioted this week, setting fire to government buildings. One student leader said rampant corruption had cost the country “time, development, and political stability.” (ABC, First Post)
🇪🇬 Egyptian authorities are on the hunt for an ancient gold bracelet reported missing from a Cairo museum. (BBC)
🇩🇰 A Danish supermarket chain is planning to open “emergency stores” across the country that can fully operate for two days without power. The company aims to stockpile “essential daily goods, either at the location or at nearby warehouses.” (European Supermarket Magazine)
🇫🇮 The U.S. State Department has weighed in on the religious liberty and free speech case against Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen, saying “no one should face trial for peacefully sharing their beliefs.” The case is about to be heard by Finland’s Supreme Court. (Reclaim the Net)
🇫🇷 Notre Dame’s iconic towers have reopened to the public, six years after a massive fire damaged the 862-year-old cathedral. (CBS)
Quickhits For The Eyebuds
👟 A food/fashion collab is here
📌 The Geo Guessr championships are wild
🏁 Steve McQueen’s 1952 Hudson hornet
🐙 When you’ve got eight arms to choose from..
🤖 Where we got the word “robot” from
🌌 Wonders in the heavens: beautiful cosmic photography
🏆 When it comes to claw machine, smart players win by walking away!
🍷 Have you ever thought about buying wine based to the animal on its label? Me neither.
Great encouragement from Pastor Wolfmueller:
Let us pray. Merciful God, Your Son, Jesus Christ, was lifted high upon the cross that He might bear the sins of the world and draw all people to Himself. Grant that we who glory in His death for our redemption may faithfully heed His call to bear the cross and follow Him, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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