012 Reformation: Unshaken
NBA's gambling problem, ballrooms and beef
Noise Decoder
NBA, Mafia Gambling Scheme
Legendary Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA player Damon Jones are among dozens arrested after a lengthy FBI investigation into an underground gambling ring. Members of four New York Mafia families were also detained. The scheme allegedly involved cheating at private high-stakes card games where victims were promised the chance to play against NBA stars, as well as rigging sports bets by having Rozier bow out of a 2023 game early. A lot of commentators I read said that trust in the NBA would plummet unless its connection to sports betting is regulated or ended.
Ballroom Blitz
Construction on President Trump’s long-proposed White House ballroom has begun, with photos of a demolished East Wing published this week. Former occupants of the White House took the move as a personal slight—even though Michelle Obama once said it was a burden to “wake up every morning in a house built by slaves.” The new room, which appears to fit in well with the existing architecture (not too Mar-a-Lago), is being funded privately, with several corporate media companies included amongst the donors. Progressive commentators likened the remodel to ISIS smashing historic treasures and compared the empty construction site to Ground Zero. One Instagram mom provided the obligatory fearmongering comparison to Hitler–apparently he had a bunker under his ballroom too. Someone finally sued, attempting to tie up the project in red tape and regulatory box-checking. In the end, the profile of the White House will look pretty much the same. Columnist Eddie Scarry sees the uproar as another sign of out-of-touch elites who remain unaffected by the constant construction inside the Beltway, while ordinary commuters endure daily interruptions. Supporters argue the White House needs a proper venue for large gatherings, pointing out that hosting galas for international leaders in a tent on the lawn isn’t exactly dignified. In the craziness of our political times, the idea that someone is building with the future in mind, not just his own tenure is a welcome change.
Gods of Paper and Metal
The U.S. is broke. So says Seton Molten. The economy is an unruly beast: corporations posted highest earnings in four years, inflation slowed, but prices are up. Interest rates eased but house prices increased. The economy is in a “weird place” right now but it’s hard to see how we can keep living as we have. The national debt sits at $38 trillion. The government remains shut down because, as one analyst put it, “Republicans want to keep spending at ridiculous levels, and Democrats want to spend even more.” Dinesh D’Souza notes what most already know: government never gets smaller. Programs never die; their funding just migrates. The only real path out, he admits, may be to focus on growing the economy. Americans aren’t thrilled with the Trump administration’s handling of fiscal issues, but they’ve stopped naming the economy as their top concern—maybe because there is a lot going on. When discussing monetary machinations on his podcast this week, Rev Fisk reminded listeners, “It’s very clear that we are being disciplined. That doesn’t mean cursed or punished—God disciplines those He loves. This is an opportunity for repentance.” He added, “Putting our trust in princes, in mammon, in ideas—it’s all insufficient. The God who created and redeemed us will lift this burden when we rest in Him.”
Looking to the cross: Jesus is always faithful. Through Jeremiah, He told the exiles in Babylon to build and plant even in the place of judgment, because their future hope was secure in Him. We are their descendants in more ways than one—living among ruins we helped create, yet called to build in faith, not fear. The nations rise and fall on borrowed glory, but the Church endures because her treasure is not made of paper or metal.
On the Radar
Business and Markets
The U.S. has agreed to a “currency swap” with Argentina, described as a kind of bailout for its struggling economy. President Trump has thrown his weight behind Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, saying he would withdraw U.S. support if Milei didn’t win. Milei’s party went on to claim a decisive victory in Argentina’s midterm elections. Meanwhile, the head of U.S. farmers’ unions has denounced Trump’s plan to allow lower tariffs on imported Argentine beef. Balancing cheaper meat prices with keeping the rural vote onside is proving tricky. The administration has pledged to assist farmers, who are facing crucial planting decisions amid plummeting exports to China—now almost “down to zero,” with beef, pork, and corn producers hardest hit. Lawmakers in ranching states say breaking the monolpy of meatpackers would go a long way to helping keep the industry competitive. (Buenos Aires Herald, Washington Examiner, Agriculture, The Week, AP)
I want my EBTtttt. Able-bodied recipients of food stamp benefits will be required to work or train 20 hours a week from next month under President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. SNAP benefits are set to dry up this week, leaving millions of Americans without federal food assistance. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said there’s some money that could be used to partially fund the program, but conflicting messages from the White House have raised questions about whether that’s legal. The program could be salvaged if the government reopens—but after a dozen failed votes, both sides seem to be waiting for the other to fold. (Not the Bee, Fox, CNN)
Last week’s Watches. For a little more on Trump’s ballroom blitz, No Kings and a literal paper dragon..
Crime and Policing
Three people have died after a semi-trailer plowed into traffic stopped on a California freeway. The driver, reportedly intoxicated, had entered the U.S. illegally from India in 2022. Truckers and company owners took to social media urging authorities to investigate trucking firms—including a numerous owned by American Sikhs—accused of undercutting competitors by hiring uninsured and unlicensed drivers. (Not the Bee, ABC News)
President Trump has pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who served a four-month sentence for failing to meet anti-fraud standards at the crypto exchange. Trump said “a lot of very good people” had urged him to pardon Zhao, who critics of the move noted had helped expand the Trump family fortune. Trump also pardoned former U.S. Representative George Santos, who had begun serving a seven-year sentence for wire fraud and impersonating donors to secure campaign contributions. (CNN, BBC, WNG)
Life and Family
While many states are seeing abortion providers shut up shop, a new “all-trimesters” abortion clinic is set to open by 2027, in New Jersey where there is no restriction on late-term abortion. The facility will also provide hormone treatments and mental health services for transgender patients. (Washington Examiner) | Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom seems determined to provide chemical abortions nationwide, signing a new law allowing pharmacists to prescribe abortion medication anonymously and ship the drugs interstate. (Daily Signal)
No-mance. Gen Z would like less sex in TV and movies. One expert said she wasn’t sure what was driving the change: “young people making healthy decisions to delay sex and reduce their number of partners,” or social isolation playing out on screen. Young people are asking for relatable stories that focus on friendships. (EuroNews)
Great stuff from the archive..
Politics
Oh. “An internal investigation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) found that throughout the Biden Administration, FEMA employees systematically refused to visit the houses of disaster survivors that displayed signs and flags they disagreed with, including those with campaign signs supporting President Trump.” (Homeland Security)
The Church
Is the Reformation over? Britain’s King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV took part in a joint prayer service at the Sistine Chapel—the first time in 500 years that leaders of both the Church of England and the Catholic Church have done so. Perhaps this is a sign of welcome ecumenism, but it also may be the two men see themselves as one and the same. (EuroNews)
Almost persuaded. Joe Rogan says he’s still enjoying going to church. “Christianity is the most fascinating [religion] to me,” he said, “because there’s this one person that everybody agrees existed…and was the best example ... and even died ... on the cross, supposedly for our sins.” Rogan seemed to frame church as a club for people trying to “be good,” but I’m praying the truth of the Gospel will overtake that and show him the reality, not the shadow. (Protestia via X)
Science and Tech
A new study found a big gap between official carbon emissions and real-world results for hybrid vehicles. Claims of a 75% reduction didn’t hold up on the road, where the difference was closer to 19%. “I think it’s quite a scandal to have this gap between real-world and official data,” one researcher said. (Gizmodo)
Outages have consequences.. Amazon Web Services’ recent outage left some “smart” beds overheating and stuck in strange positions. There was probably a manual override somewhere—but if Star Trek has taught us anything, it’s probably located inside the mattress. (OBDaily)
You don’t have to be a climate alarmist to recognize that ancient cultures had some great ideas about conserving water.. (Colossal)
Is brain rot making AI language models dumber? (Gizmodo)
Graphene-enhanced asphalt could make potholes a thing of the past. (Nice News)
Suppressing fire with sound? (The Hustle)
My piece this week on humanity’s relationship with its tools, what they do for us and what they do to us:
Mind and Body
New study on creatine has revealed benefits, not just for athletes and gym bros. A report collating a number of studies found positive affects on cognition and memory, muscle repair and strength, even in older people who did not work out. (ZeroHedge)
Is fear contagious? Science says yes, but Jesus’ perfect love can drive it away! (PopSci)
War and Rumors of War
The Department of War says it destroyed another drug boat in the Caribbean this week, killing six people. Several boats have been hit in recent months, with the DOW claiming a total of 43 “narco-terrorists” killed. Critics note that the U.S. has not provided evidence the vessels were involved in drug trafficking, and Venezuelan fishermen have voiced concern for their safety. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth insists they are targeting the right boats.(The Hill, CBS, Secretary of War via X)
Russia’s President Putin appears largely unruffled after Trump imposed new sanctions on Russian oil exports. He admitted the move may hurt a little, but said he would not bow to U.S. pressure. Mr Putin claimed his new cruise missile had a successful launch over the weekend which one observer wrote is a sign of desperation. (The Guardian, CNN)
The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee has proposed a bill that would designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism unless it returns roughly 20,000 Ukrainian children forcibly abducted during the war. (WNG)
Clans within Gaza continue to clash with Hamas. (Front Page)
World News
🇯🇵 Japan’s parliament has elected the country’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. Despite going where no woman has gone before, Takaichi is described as “extremely conservative,” seeking to boost Japan’s defense and opposing same-sex marriage. (AP)
🇬🇧 Britain’s Royal College of Psychiatrists has doubled down on its opposition to UK’s euthanasia bill. The College says there are no conscience protections for physicians who don’t want to participate in killing, neither is there any mechanism for investigating whether there are other “unmet needs” driving a patient to request euthanasia. (WNG)
🇫🇷 Four people have been detained in connection with the spectacular Louvre heist, though there’s still no word on the missing jewels. The seven-minute robbery—carried out by thieves posing as construction workers—is estimated to be worth over $100 million. (ABC News)| German police have uncovered a transnational art forgery ring, seizing millions of dollars’ worth of fake paintings. (AOL)
🇧🇷 The Brazilian government has launched an AI-driven platform to track dissent and “gender speech offenses” online. Critics say the system, named Aletheia, shows “how far speech control has advanced under the banner of tolerance.” (Reclaim the Net)
🇨🇦 Canada has canceled trade talks after Ontario ran an edited video of Ronald Reagan saying tariffs hurt Americans. The province reportedly paid for the ad to air in the U.S., hoping to sway Americans against Trump’s policies. (The Independent, BBC, CBC)
🇨🇴 Colombia’s criminal gangs are protecting their interests—illicit gold mining and drug running—with a “poor man’s air force” of cheap drones and explosives. (War on the Rocks)
🇮🇳 Indian call center workers are being replaced by AI chatbots. (Tech Gig)
🇮🇸 Mosquitoes have been found in Iceland for the first time. (Iceland Monitor)
Quickhits For The Eyebuds
🥒 For the pickle lovers
🖼️ The most expensive things to be stolen
🐐 Fight, flight, fawn? Meet the goats that just fall over
📅 What’s the longest gap between movie and sequel?
🌇 Could you prolong the sunset by driving west?
🐻 California bear checks in to see how the other half live
🌪️ You can be a backyard meteorologist
🪖 Military expressions that are used in everyday life
God’s creation is pretty awesome. These “comedy” wildlife photos will make you smile:
Let us pray. Almighty and gracious Lord, pour out Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people. Keep us steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and deliver us in times of temptation, defend us against all enemies, and grant to Your Church Your saving peace; 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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