“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” ~ Hebrews 4
First Watch:
Brony Angle in DC Pipe Bomb Case Updates on the suspected DC pipe bomber include claims he was active on “Brony” forums—grown men heavily into My Little Pony. Yes, it’s a thing, and no, it’s not an indicator of a sound mind. (Not the Bee)
Erika Kirk Pushes Back on Speculation Erika Kirk has asked those who are peddling wild theories about her husband’s assassination to stop. She referred to current internet chatterers trying to guess the site of Charlie Kirk’s burial as a breaking point. (Red State)
Small Businesses Struggled in November Jobs Report November’s jobs report wasn’t great. Larger companies kept hiring steadily, but small “mom and pop” businesses with fewer than 50 employees struggled. (NBC)
Tanker Seized President Trump says the US has seized a Venezuelan oil tanker, but has not said why. (WNG)
Musk Says God Made the Universe Elon Musk told podcast host Katie Miller he believes God created the universe—though he still floated the idea that humans are leftover particles of dead stars. (Thanks, Moby and the other popularizers of that theory..🤦♂️) A little more humbling to remember we began with dirt and spirit. (WNG)
Fishy Sounds New underwater tech now lets ecologists identify the sounds of individual fish species. (Good News Network)
Influential architect Frank Gehry has died at age 96. (New York Times)
Second Watch:
Nativity Hijacked for Politics Boston’s Catholic archdiocese has asked a parish to remove its political nativity scene, which featured an empty stable and a message claiming Jesus, Mary, and Joseph had been taken by immigration authorities. The Christmas story gets co-opted for all kinds of agendas, but the comparisons are ridiculous and always miss the real power of the Gospel in a blind scramble for political points. (WNG, The Federalist)
DOJ Rejects ‘Disparate Impact’ Theory The Department of Justice has revised how it handles “disparate impact” claims under the Civil Rights Act, saying it will now require actual evidence of bias. Critics say the theory undermined merit-based hiring, punishing workplaces that lacked “diversity,” as if they are discriminatory by default. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said the shift will “restore true equality under the law by requiring proof of actual discrimination, rather than enforcing race- or sex-based quotas or assumptions.” (Not the Bee, NewsWeek)
Hill of [Soy]beans? President Trump says he will lift the ban on Nvidia exporting its H200 chips to China. Debate continues over whether restricting U.S. tech ever slowed China’s AI development at all. Trump’s goal is to get China buying American produce again, even as he approved a $12 billion relief package for U.S. farmers. (Semafor, BBC)
Local Politics The Trump administration’s newly released National Security Strategy is drawing fire from both sides. Critics say it needlessly alienates European allies and abandons “great power competition,” leaving Russia and China unchecked. The Tangle newsletter noted, however, that focusing on the U.S. backyard may not be misguided, given how much influence China and Russia already hold south of the border. (Washington Examiner, Tangle, CSIS)
Third Watch:
🍺 Wildfires may lead to smoky beer
🏰 Ten British landscapes that inspired literary classics
And…
The first volume in the Family Bible Commentary by Friend of the Sentinel, Dr Adam Koontz, is available now! As he says, “The Scriptures opened up are light for the soul and food for the heart. Nothing suits a Christian better than growth in the knowledge of his God, and how can he grow, whether young or old in years or faith, if the Spirit’s Word does not feed him?”
Let us pray. O God of love, those who abide in love abide in You, and You abide in them. Give us such perfect love of You and our neighbor that all fear may be cast out of our hearts and we may with confidence greet You on the Day of Judgement; 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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