“Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me.” ~ Psalm 131
100% Adulting
A new study has highlighted something many of us already feel in our bones: young people today are struggling to be conscientious, dependable, disciplined, and emotionally steady. (Not your kids, probably, but many others.) John Burn-Murdoch summarized his findings in a paywalled Financial Times article, but shared a detailed thread on X. His conclusion? People in their twenties and thirties are “increasingly easily distracted and careless, less tenacious and less likely to make and deliver on commitments.”
Conscientiousness—being reliable, disciplined, and willing to see things through—is strongly tied to thriving in life. And yet, as Burn-Murdoch shows, it’s collapsing. Meanwhile, neuroticism—anxiousness, tension, and emotional volatility—is on the rise
It’s not hard to see why. Whatever the trajectory was before, covid lockdowns and fear campaigns poured gasoline on the fire. Being told to stay home under threat of punishment, while “experts” warned that hanging out with people was dangerous, “broke the minds of millions.”
And there are plenty of other culprits. Burn-Murdoch points to digital technology: “The sheer convenience of the online world makes real-life commitments feel messy and effortful… Distraction is toxic to conscientiousness.” It’s easier than ever to avoid making plans or cancel them at the last minute, he says. The digital world gives you an “opt-out” but “the in-person world encourages conscientiousness.”
Meanwhile, the Census Bureau reports that only 17% of Americans under 34 have hit the five markers of adulthood: living apart from parents, finishing school, working, marrying, and having a child. Putting off responsibility may have become socially normal, but it’s no way to live. As mathematician Nicholas Eberstadt once said “You spend a lot of time watching.”
Can we step up?
Our young people—especially young men—need challenge, accountability, and support to do hard things. They need examples of grit, humility, and faithfulness. In a low-trust world, we can rebuild trust by keeping our word, showing up, and doing what we say we’ll do. The church is called to raise men and women who don’t flinch from responsibility but embrace it as part of their calling in Christ.
So let’s do it. Let’s raise the bar. Let’s refuse to accept apathy and distraction as normal. And let’s lead lives worthy of imitation, so that when the world looks for men and women of integrity, they know where to find them.
‘Til all is made new,
Frisby
Noise Decoder
Scientific Credentials
The White House is standing by Health and Human Services Director Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after he abruptly fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Susan Monarez last week, just a month after praising her “unimpeachable scientific credentials” at her swearing-in. Monarez reportedly refused to resign, prompting her dismissal. Several other senior CDC leaders resigned in protest.
One of those officials, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis (who you may remember, Rev Fisk wrote about a couple of years ago) released a statement criticizing the Secretary’s approach. He accused Kennedy of refusing to take “input from CDC subject matter experts” and said new health policies “do not reflect scientific reality” and are designed to harm “the youngest Americans and pregnant people.”
However, Dr. Daskalakis come under fire for his own disregard for scientific reality. Critics point out that he encouraged gay men to continue doing what “brings them joy” at the height of the monkeypox outbreak. He also wholeheartedly supports the transgender juggernaut, though studies have proved that even the most drastic forms of intervention for gender dysphoria are largely ineffective.
Kennedy’s skepticism of vaccines appears to be a tipping point for some public health employees. The Food and Drug Administration recently changed its guidelines regarding covid vaccines, recommending that young, healthy people don’t need to be jabbed. Earlier this month, a gunman claiming to be vaccine-injured opened fire at the CDC’s Atlanta headquarters, an attack widely linked in media coverage to Kennedy’s views on vaccination.
Looking to the cross: Leaders contradict each other and policies change overnight, but “the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8). So don’t let the chaos drive you to fear. Instead, let it push you deeper into Scripture and prayer. Christ is our anchor; His truth is steady when every other voice shifts with the wind. James promises, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).
On the Radar
Crime and Punishment
Courts, Law and Policing
President Trump signed an executive order eliminating cashless bail in D.C. and nationwide. Critics argue the bail system already favors the wealthy and that cashless bail is mostly applied to nonviolent crimes. Victims counter that bail reform fuels repeat offenses that often escalate. (WNG, Daily Signal, Time, Spectator) | The President also said he wants the death penalty reinstated in D.C. for murderers. (Time)
California Governor Gavin Newsom appears to support the President’s D.C. crime measures, announcing he’s creating a special police force to tackle crime. However, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says he has ordered his police departments not to cooperate if the President sends the National Guard to his city. (Epoch Times, Not the Bee) | Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that National Guardsmen stationed in D.C. will now be issued firearms but did not provide a reason. (WNG)
Follow the dark money: Investigations in Minnesota found Somali autism services “chose to roll money out the door to Somali groups, while eliminating accountability and avoiding any scrutiny out of fear of racism.” (Front Page, Minnesota Reformer)
Traffic authorities in Florida have identified a “cheating scheme” that “allowed drivers who could not understand English to obtain commercial licenses, putting the public at serious risk.” Using hidden cameras and earpiece, the men were able to pass the test with the help of someone who can translate for them in real time. (First Coast News) Video from American Truckers via X.
Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia, co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and racketeering charges. Despite being wanted by U.S. authorities for years, he had never been arrested until last year, when he was lured to the U.S. and detained. Zambada Garcia oversaw a vast operation involving drug trafficking, money laundering, and murders. (WNG)
Tribes and Tongues
Immigration and Race
President Trump has said America will provide visas for 600,000 Chinese students during comments made in Oval Office. Trade talks with China are ongoing. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick offered a twisty defense of the idea, saying without foreign students to prop up elite universities, “all the students would go up to better schools, and the bottom 15 percent of universities and colleges would go out of business in America." Commentator Steve Deace was one of many conservative critics who objected to the plan: “Literally nobody voted for this.” (Fox, Newsweek, Steve Deace via X)
Kilmar Abrego Garcia—the media’s favorite “Maryland man,” mistakenly deported to El Salvador earlier this year—is now facing deportation to Uganda. Immigration authorities reportedly offered him a plea deal to serve time on two human-smuggling charges before deportation to Costa Rica, but he declined. His legal team says he plans to seek asylum in the U.S. (WNG, The Hill, Pirate Wires, WNG)
Foreign investors, including Chinese nationals, are reportedly buying fire-ravaged California properties. With locals facing years-long waits for permits to rebuild, many are choosing to sell rather than start over. (Pirate Wires)
Metropolis
Politics and the State
President Trump has attempted to fire governor of the federal Reserve, Lisa Cook. While no criminal charges have been brought against Govneror Cook, she has been referred to the Department of Justice to be investigate potential mortgage fraud. Cook listed more than one property as her principal dwelling. The President may have the ability to fire her “for cause” but Cook says she will fight the allegations. Trump has “drawn criticism that he is eroding the central bank’s independence.” (Washington Examiner, ZeroHedge)
President Trump has canceled former vice president, Kamala Harris’ secret service protection. Protection is usually granted to VPs for six months after leaving office, but President Biden extended Harris’ for an extra year, in an previously undisclosed order. California highway patrol has offered to step in, specifically as Harris begins her book tour. (Not the Bee, Los Angeles Time)
Treasure
Money, Markets and Jobs
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell continued to speak about the uncertain economic future but hinted that a cut to interest rates might be on the cards for next month. (Epoch Times)
Taco Bell is rethinking its AI drive-through assistants after a man attempted to order 18,000 water cups. While online commentary claimed the bot “crashed,” Tedium suggests Taco Bell’s system may actually be safer than others, routing suspicious orders to a human. In a week full of headlines about AI-driven violence and delusion, this is one case where safety measures worked. (BBC, Tedium)
My thoughts on the Cracker Barrel crack up:
Reality Bytes
Digital Technology
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has valued the video platform at $330 billion. President Trump has extended the company’s deadline to divest multiple times, despite lawmakers voting to ban the app altogether. The White House even launched its own TikTok account two weeks ago. ByteDance is reportedly working on a standalone app for the U.S. market. (CNBC, The Guardian)
Waymo has been given permission to test its driverless taxis in New York City. (TechCrunch)
Prompt injection: The folks responsible for the Brave browser have highlighted the very-hard-to-fix problem of secret instructions being given to online chat bots to steal sensitive information and passwords. (Brave)
Spotify is rolling out a messaging feature. (The Verge)
Health
Medicine and Food
Try explaining this to a person from the last century… the moral and ethical implications of new scientific frontiers are many and it amazing how much washes over us as we read news like this.. Chinese doctors have transplanted a genetically-modified pig lung into a man declared brain dead. The organ functioned for a few days before beginning to fail. The patient’s family then requested that it be removed. (Live Science)
Priscilla Chan Zuckerberg has backed a new center in California where “in vivo gene editing therapies” aimed at curing rare disorders. “Eight children will enroll in a clinical trial to receive a custom-made CRISPR therapy.” (Vitorio via X)
A man’s guide to blood pressure. (Art of Manliness)
A doctor suggests breathing exercise to help stop teeth grinding. (Today)
Hearts and Minds
Philosophy, Hacks and Human Connection
Venting anger is probably not the best way to deal with it. A new study shows calming activity is a quicker fix. A reminder of St Paul’s admonition that men raise their hands in prayer, not wrath. (Science Alert, 1 Timothy 2)
The Elements
The Natural World
Electric collars allow cows to graze near land conservation projects without physical fences. (Smithsonian)
Seedless fruits are a paradox. (Be Curious via YouTube)
Uranus has another moon! (Science News)
What a bald eagle sounds like. (IFL Science)
War and Rumors of War
Conflict and Weaponry
Russia launched dozens of drones into Ukraine during Ukraine’s independence celebrations. Russia claims a Ukrainian drone strike caused a fire at a nuclear power plant in the Kursk region. (Yahoo) | Reports indicate long queues and shortages of unleaded fuel across Russia. (Steve Rosenberg via X)
Israel says it is investigating a “tragic mishap” involving a double strike on a hospital in Gaza, which reports say killed 20 people. (BBC)
Thousands of Venezuelans queued to sign up for voluntary militia service after President Nicolás Maduro warned of U.S.-backed regime change and a potential “military terrorist attack.” President Trump sent warships to Venezuela recently, reportedly to curb drug trafficking. ( (France 24)
Stories From Far Away
World News
🏴 A “pothole vigilante” is hoping his local council’s disdain for the English flag will jolt them into fixing the roads in his neighbourhood. Ben Thornbury paints St George’s cross on damaged asphalt to highlight the problem, triggering the council to fill it in before anyone gets offended. (Daily Mail)
🇹🇼A referendum to reopen Taiwan’s last nuclear power plant has failed to reach the required threshold of votes. The majority of the public want to see Taiwan move toward energy indepencede as currently 98% of its needs are imported. (NucNet)
🇦🇺 Australia has expelled Iranian diplomats claiming Iran is behind a series of attacks on Jewish businesses and institutions. (Hot Air)
🇰🇪 Kenya has reportedly eliminated sleeping sickness cause by parasite. (RFI)
🇫🇮 The world’s largest sand battery has begun operation in Finland. (New Atlas)
🇪🇸 Tennis player Carlos Alcaraz has come clean about his daring new haircut. (Mirror)
Quickhits For The Eyebuds
🛬 Five countries that don’t have an airport
🌸 A Minneapolis sculptor makes recreates whimsical plants and flowers with paper.
🌪️ How storm chasers propose
⌨️ What every key on your keyboard does
👩🏻🦰 Redheads are special
⛷️ Skiing in a glacier cave:
Let us pray. O Lord of grace and mercy, teach us by Your Holy Spirit to follow the example of Your Son in true humility, that we may withstand the temptations of the devil and with pure hearts and minds avoid ungodly pride; 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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Thank you for putting these together. I enjoy this much more than browsing headlines. I appreciate the prayers and Christian perspective you give.
About the venting anger link-- Proverbs 29:11: “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” This verse comes to my mind often but usually right after the fact 😬 I cannot hear the phrase, "I just need to vent" without remembering this verse. And sometimes I find that phrase coming out of my very own mouth. If the Bible says it's better to hold it back, it's true! Takes awhile for "science" to appreciate these things sometimes.