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WORLD NEWS

Diplomacy, Deals, and Deadlines

Uncle Sam is digging in against Russia. 

On Monday, President Trump announced the U.S. will sell “top-of-the-line” weapons to NATO allies, who will then “massively supply” them to Ukraine. He also threatened “very severe tariffs… at about 100%” on Russia’s remaining trade partners unless a ceasefire is reached within 50 days, saying a “great conversation” with Putin “doesn’t mean anything” if the Kremlin continues to attack its western neighbor. 

Ukrainian President Zelenksyy thanked Trump for his “willingness to support Ukraine,” but war-worn Ukrainians have expressed disappointment with the 50-day deadline, arguing it will only give Russia more time to claim lives. 

Moscow is giving Washington the cold shoulder, calling Trump’s announcement a “theatrical ultimatum” and arguing that NATO’s support for Ukraine encourages Kyiv to continue the war rather than pursue peace.

(We’re also covering this story tomorrow in Decaf, The Pour Over for Families. Sign up—for free—here.)

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CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
Christians should be committed to praying for world leaders to be wise and to work towards peaceful resolutions while simultaneously placing our hope in God, not government. 

“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” 
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (CSB) (read full passage)

U.S. NEWS

Fires & Floods

Extreme weather has wreaked havoc across the country this month. 

Lightning-sparked wildfires have been scorching the Grand Canyon since July 4. The “Dragon Bravo” fire has burned over 5,700 acres, destroyed nearly 80 structures—including the century-old Grand Canyon Lodge—and forced the North Rim to close for the rest of the season. No injuries have been reported.

In Massachusetts, a fire tore through an assisted-living home in Fall River on Sunday, killing nine residents and injuring over 30, including first responders. The cause is under investigation.  

Meanwhile, heavy floods have inundated NYC and other Northeastern cities. This comes on the heels of relentless rains across Kerr County, Texas (the location of Camp Mystic), where persistent downpours continue to hamper recovery efforts following the July 4 flash floods that killed over 130.

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Massive weather events and natural disasters remind us that all of the world has been broken by sin. But Christians can look forward to an eternity where there’s redemption not just for people but for creation itself. 

“For the creation was subjected to futility ​— ​not willingly, but because of him who subjected it ​— ​in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.” 
Romans 8:20-21 (CSB) (read full passage)

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ECONOMY

Crypto Week

Lawmakers have declared it “Crypto Week” on Capitol Hill.

The House is considering three bills that promise to bring crypto out of the wild west:

• The GENIUS Act would establish a framework for stablecoins—digital tokens tied to value tangible assets, like the US dollar—and already passed the Senate with bipartisan support

• The likely harder-to-pass CLARITY Act would give regulatory oversight of different crypto assets to the SEC and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission

• The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act would prohibit the Federal Reserve from creating its own digital currency in an effort to keep crypto decentralized

Bitcoin briefly topped $123,000 on Monday—a new all-time high and up ~85% over the last year—in hopes this week will (finally) bring regulatory clarity to the industry.

And if Crypto Week isn’t your thing, Shark Week kicks off Sunday.

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Verse to consider when obsessively checking whether stocks or cryptos are up or down… “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.” 
Philippians 4:11-13 (CSB) (read full passage)

School’s out for the summer… but school politics aren’t. The Supreme Court lifted a block on a White House plan to massively shrink the Department of Education and give more authority to states. Meanwhile, 24 blue states are suing the Trump admin to release $7B in frozen-for-review afterschool program funds, arguing the delay is hurting schools and children.
 

Nominations for the 77th Emmy Awards were announced yesterday, with Apple’s Severance picking up the most nominations (27), including best drama series. Returning shows The Bear, The Last of Us, and The White Lotus made the list again, while newcomers The Studio, The Penguin, and Adolescence also received gobs of noms. Comedian Nate Bargatze will host the award show on September 14th. 
 

Andrew Cuomo is re-reentering the NY politics chat. The former governor announced he’ll continue running for mayor of the Big Apple as an independent after conceding the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani last month. It’s a crowded field that also includes incumbent Eric Adams (Democrat-turned-independent) and Republican Curtis Sliwa (founder of the Guardian Angels, a volunteer crime-stopping group similar to the Knights of the Night).
 

Big tech and D.C. are forging friendships. The U.S. just gave Nvidia the green light to resume selling high-performance chips to China—a move that could ease trade tensions. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense awarded contracts worth up to $200M each to Google, Anthropic, and xAI to help integrate artificial intelligence into national security efforts.
 

Your favorite Blue Moon ice cream might be a little less… blue. Dozens of ice cream producers announced they’ll remove artificial colors by 2028, including Red 40, Green 3, Blue 2, and Yellow 5. (No mention of TPO’s favorite, Coral 3:16.) The International Dairy Foods Association insists the dyes are safe, but wants to get ahead of possible bans.

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

You won’t believe what grass looks like… under a microscope.

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Every day around 2 p.m…. It’d hit me. The brain fog, the yawning, the overwhelming desire to run upstairs and take a power nap check on the kids. 

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Emily Hansen | Dairy-loving Partnerships Manager