The Watches 10.08.25
The Pope's ICE, banned books, attacker arrested outside DC church
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” ~ Matthew 10
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.
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