010 Pentecost 18: True Heart Change
Colorado's conversion challenge, Trump's peace plan and watching out for slop
“There salvation in none other than Jesus Christ, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” ~ Acts 4
Noise Decoder
No Conversion for You
The Supreme Court has returned from its summer recess to take up a case that could reshape how states regulate counselling on gender and sexuality. At issue is whether Colorado can force counsellors to only affirm clients’ gender identities—even when those clients want help aligning with their biological sex.
Plaintiff Kaley Chiles, a Christian counsellor, argues that the state’s ban on so-called “conversion therapy” violates her right to speak freely in her practice. Laws like Colorado’s often evoke images of the barbaric practices of decades past, but as critics note, “through the magic of definition,” the state has reclassified any therapy aimed at changing “unwanted behaviours or gender expressions” as “equivalent to lobotomies and electroshock.”
Colorado insists its restrictions protect patients’ health, treating the case as medical rather than a free speech issue.
Looking to the cross: It’s easy to grow weary watching truth pushed further out of public life—especially when even compassion is called hate. But we speak truth because it’s true, not because it’s popular. And when words fall short or fall on deaf ears, there’s comfort knowing laws can never change the human heart. Only Jesus can take what’s twisted by sin and make it whole as he did with each of us. He loves to give new hearts to those crushed by confusion and weary of their own rebellion. So we keep speaking, keep praying, and keep hoping—not in courts or counsellors, but in Christ who sets captives free.
Trump Sues for Peace
President Trump announced via social media that Hamas has agreed to the “first phase” of the latest proposed peace plan. Israel’s cabinet has officially endorsed the deal, which would see remaining hostages released next week along with the bodies of 28 deceased. Hamas—what’s left of it—has reportedly agreed in part but is demanding a role in future talks on governance and legal authority.
The U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey all helped mediate the breakthrough, prompting cautious optimism among the diplomatic class and no shortage of praise for Trump in conservative circles and especially in Israel. No Nobel gong for the President, but the Peace Prize winner, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, dedicated her win to Trump for his “decisive support” for her cause. Maybe the Nobel Committee is taking notes this time?
Israel’s forces have begun falling back, as per the agreement, so Hamas will have 72 hours to return hostages. While many key details remain unresolved, Front Page says the current plan could drag the U.S. into nation-building, proof, perhaps, that Washington has “learned nothing” from Afghanistan or Iraq.
CBS Faces Some Facts
Staff at CBS were reportedly “stone-faced” after learning that former New York Times journalist Bari Weiss had been appointed as the network’s new top news editor. The move came shortly after CBS owner Larry Ellison acquired The Free Press—the independent outlet Weiss founded after leaving the Times. CBS staff are said to be frustrated by the high price Ellison paid for the site as they face looming cuts to the network’s newsroom.
Weiss built a following on the Right for her outspoken criticism of “cancel culture” and progressive orthodoxy, though she’s no conservative–more Not Left. She resigned from the New York Times in 2020, accusing the paper of ideological conformity. Her Free Press brand—emphasizing free speech and open debate—has since become a hub for journalists disillusioned with legacy media, with Paramount CEO, David Ellison saying Weiss’ aim will be to restore trust in CBS and broaden its audience with less partisanship.
Ellison, a tech billionaire who is a heavy hitter across Silicon Valley and Hollywood, has been expanding his media footprint, prompting comparisons to the Murdoch family’s media dynasty. He’s also among those set to oversee the U.S. branch of TikTok. Both Ellison and Weiss, who are Jewish and outspokenly pro-Israel, have drawn sharp criticism from the activist Left—an undercurrent that may add tension to their partnership at CBS. Conservative commentator, Megyn Kelly, wished Weiss luck, but wondered why she would leave independent media for the constraints of a legacy network? “Why would you go into mainstream media right now,” Kelly asked. “Like, it’s dead, it’s dying, it absolutely is on track for the iceberg.”
On the Radar
Crime and Policing
AG Letitia James indicted for mortgage fraud. New York’s Attorney General—best known for her case against Donald Trump—has been indicted on charges of mortgage fraud. Prosecutors allege she claimed multiple homes as her primary residence to secure better loan rates. James denies wrongdoing and says Trump is weaponizing the justice system in revenge. CNN’s Kasie Hunt said that high-profile officials should be held accountable but also hinted that it’s not such a big deal, with “hundreds” such cases are filed each year. (The Hill, Free Beacon)
South Carolina judge’s home destroyed by fire. Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein’s house burned down this week, injuring several occupants who jumped from windows. Goodstein, who had recently ruled against the Trump administration and received death threats, was not at home. While left-wing commentary was quick to suggest the fire might have been set for political purposes, investigators say there’s no sign the blaze was deliberately lit. (New York Post)
Burning man arrested. A Florida resident has been charged with starting the fire that burned through the Pacific Palisades earlier this year. The 29 year-old man reportedly used AI to generate images of people fleeing from blazes, The Palisades fire claimed 12 lives and destroyed thousands of buildings and homes. (ZeroHedge)
What it’s like in the witness protection program: one woman’s wild story. (Insider via YouTube)
Politics
No help. Chicago is in the spotlight after police were instructed not to assist when protesters surrounded border patrol agents with vehicles. Illinois governor JB Pritzker is suing the Trump administration for trying to send the National Guard to his state, while more “peacekeepers”–the state’s substitute for more police–continue to be shown as unhelpful. (Fox News, ZeroHedge, CNN, Not the Bee)
Maybe it’s time to turn off the cameras? Televised hearings on Capitol Hill have devolved into something closer to a UFC cage match, with lawmakers shouting over each other and hurling insults. Hearings with FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi were described as “combative” and “tense,” prompting Not the Bee to wonder if they’re now more about grandstanding for the TV audience than governing. Hard habit to break, though—one little-known senator named Kamala Harris got her start that way. (Not the Bee, BBC, CNBC, NPR)
Business and Markets
Everything Is becoming a bank. From Amazon to Starbucks, more companies are offering financial services—credit cards, loyalty programs, and “buy now, pay later” schemes—as a way to cash in on customer data and loyalty. It’s a booming, barely regulated industry that lets corporations act like banks without the oversight. As Jacobin put it, “customers have essentially placed their money in a savings account that accrues no interest, while giving these conglomerates an interest-free loan.” (Jacobin)
Phished? Americans face around 100 scam attempts every month. (Study Finds)
Science and Tech
Space radio signals that form a Venn diagram? That’s an “odd radio circle”, you got there. (Gizmodo)
California cracks down on loud ads. The state has passed a law requiring streaming services to keep commercials from blaring louder than the shows they interrupt—after one man complained that the “sudden eruptions of noise during ad breaks” kept waking his newborn.(The Guardian)
Have we passed peak social media use? Maybe. (Flowing Data)
From the archive:
..and this week’s Watches, ICYMI:
Mind and Body
Nobel Prize awarded for immune research. Scientists Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi were recognized for discovering how certain cells stop the immune system from attacking the body—work that could lead to new treatments for autoimmune diseases and cancers. (ArsTechnica)
Multivitamins linked to higher death risk. A large study found long-term multivitamin use was associated with earlier mortality, not longer life. (Epoch Times via X)
J&J hit with nearly $1B verdict. A Los Angeles jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $996 million to a family who claimed the company’s talc products caused a rare cancer. (CNBC)
Why dolls freak some of us out: “The split second between recognizing the human-like visage of a doll and realizing it is not a person can lead to an almost unconscious sense of unease.” (Phys)
Firehose of slop. While we currently associate “slop”with AI-genreated content, Drew Austin says we “turned on the faucet” a long time ago and all by ourselves. AI is merely super-charging a process whereby people are “learning to care less about details and perceive distinct things as interchangeable”. From elevator musak to billboards to streaming endless (often poor quality) “content is “environmental filler…which nobody really wanted, probably unnoticed, meant to only register at a subliminal level, and put in place to negate a worse alternative: silence.” (Dirt)
Heritage
Arts, History and Sport
Proof of life: handwriting in an age of bots. (Wired)
The chariots of Israel. (Biblical Archeology)
A site dedicated to circle of thirds music theory. (Circle of Thirds)
War and Rumors of War
Putin issues missile warning. The Russian president said U.S.–Russia relations will deteriorate further if Washington supplies long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. (Epoch Times)
Myanmar military bombs protestors. At least 24 people were killed after the junta used a motorised glider to drop explosives on a gathering of demonstrators. (BBC)
Colombia seeks mediation. President Gustavo Petro has asked Qatar to act as go-between after the U.S. destroyed a boat in the Caribbean. The Department of War says the boat was running drugs with known cartel members aboard, but Bogota claims there were Colombian nationals killed. (WNG)
World News
🇨🇦 Trade talks stall. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney left meetings with President Trump empty-handed, despite cordial discussions and Trump’s assurances that “progress is being made.” (CNN)
🇨🇳 China edits out gay wedding using AI. Censors reportedly used artificial intelligence to alter a U.S. horror film, turning one of the two grooms into a woman to comply with state restrictions. (Deadline)
🇬🇧 Synagogue attack victim shot by police. One of the victims in the UK synagogue attack was reportedly struck by police fire while sheltering behind a door. (ZeroHedge)
🇪🇺 EU says only meat can be called meat. The European Parliament voted to reserve words like “sausage” and “burger” for actual meat products.” The EU has long argued over categories for plant-based products but The Guardian says recent elections have “shifted the parliament to the right, bringing in more lawmakers who seek close ties with farmers.” (The Guardian)
Quickhits For The Eyebuds
🥩 Arby’s is doing steak nuggets
🍯 Glue: one of humanity’s best ideas
📜 How to write your name in cuneiform
🥷 MMA experts weigh in on who they think is the best movie fighter ever
🔪 How to sharpen a pocket knife
🦔 Britain’s hedgehog highway is kinda adorable
📺 The Brady Bunch house is open for visitors
👾 Pretty rad! 80s video game marquees
Let us pray. Almighty God, You show mercy to Your people in all their troubles. Grant us always to recognize Your goodness, give thanks for Your compassion, and praise Your holy name; 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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