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U.S. NEWS

Tick Tock, TikTok

The Supreme Court is on the clock to uphold or reject Uncle Sam’s looming TikTok ban.

The High Court agreed to hear expedited arguments starting on January 10, where TikTok will argue that the law banning the app violates the First Amendment. Congress passed the ban earlier this year, citing national security concerns over such a popular app—it’s used by 170M Americans—having ties to a foreign adversary (China).

If the Supremes side with TikTok, it’ll mean scrolling as usual. If the ban is upheld, TikTok will be removed from app stores (no new users) and lose the ability to make updates on January 19th, leading to a growing swarm of software bugs. 

President-elect Trump is another variable… he’s recently expressed sympathy for the ‘Tok, and it’ll be his DOJ responsible for enforcing the ban if it’s upheld.

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Our ultimate purpose is to glorify God—the Creator of the universe, Great Innovator, and Inventor of everything. However you engage with social media, remember to use technology to point others to eternal hope in him. 

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him.” 
Colossians 1:15-16 (CSB) (read full passage)

POLITICS

Shutdown Season?

It’s been chaotic on Capitol Hill.

On Wednesday, Congressional leaders were poised to pass a bipartisan deal to fund the government through March until DOGE’s Elon Musk and President-elect Trump rallied their online troops to oppose the bill filled with “waste and corruption.” After support for the bill crumbled, Republicans scrambled to draft a new Trump-supported version… which failed to pass the House last night. 

Speaker Johnson (R-LA) must pick up the pieces by tonight to avoid a government shutdown.

Meanwhile, Congress overwhelmingly passed an $895B defense spending bill. It improves military pay and benefits and boosts funding for competition with China and Russia; controversially, the bill also bans funding for medical interventions that could “sterilize” service members’ children “diagnosed with gender dysphoria.” 

The bill now heads to the Oval Office for the expected John Hancock.

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Verse to consider whether you get a lump of coal, a Barbie Dream House, or a government shutdown for Christmas… “For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.”
Isaiah 9:6-7 (CSB) (read full passage)

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ECONOMY

Wall Street Woes

Interest rates got their expected trim Wednesday.

Wrapping up its final 2024 meeting, the Fed announced a quarter-point key interest rate cut––the third consecutive cut this year—returning rates to December 2022 levels.

The central bank also signaled a cautious outlook for 2025: expect only two rate reductions. They’re cutting the expected cuts (four were originally anticipated) because they’re now predicting inflation of 2.5% (up from a more optimistic 2.1%).  

The news of only two rate cuts plunged Wall Street to one of its worst days of the year (higher borrowing costs mean less cash burning holes in investors’ pockets). The Dow dropped 1,100 points (2.5%), marking its first 10-day losing streak since ‘74; the S&P 500 fell nearly 3%; Nasdaq dropped 3.5%.  

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Too often, we let eternally insignificant things like the ups and downs of interest rates and the market control us. As you seek to steward your money well, keep your focus on the Giver rather than the gifts, and don’t neglect generosity. 

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich… At the present time your surplus is available for [believers’] need, so that their abundance may in turn meet your need, in order that there may be equality.” 
2 Corinthians 8:9, 14 (CSB) (read full passage)

The first severe case of bird flu (H5N1) in a human has been reported in Louisiana. The CDC confirmed the patient is in critical condition with severe respiratory symptoms. Over 60 mild human cases of bird flu––mostly among farmworkers––have been reported this year. California declared a state of emergency to combat the H5N1 flying through the state’s dairy cattle.
 

Israel struck Houthi “ports and energy infrastructure” near Yemen’s capital Thursday, killing nine. The strike was just hours after the Iran-backed group launched missiles at Israel, which caused no injuries but damaged a school in Tel Aviv. Israel says it’s fighting “for the entire international community” to protect Red Sea trade routes and topple the Iranian proxy group.
 

California has the green light to ban gas car sales by 2035. The EPA approved California’s “stricter-than-federal emissions regulations” Wednesday and signed a waiver to allow the state to gradually limit the percentage of gas cars sold over the next decade. TBD if the Trump administration—which has already disavowed similar green initiatives—will try to slam the brakes.
 

Merry Christmas to everyone except murder hornets. The invasive Asian giant hornet, which caused social media buzz in 2020, has been eradicated from the U.S., per a joint statement from Washington State and U.S. Agriculture departments Wednesday.  The hornets appeared in 2019, posing potential threats to native pollinators, but haven’t been detected in three years.
 

Editor’s Note: The following story discusses abuse and may not be suitable for everyone. 
The mass drugging-and-rape trial that stunned France is over. All 51 men were convicted and sentenced to 3–20 years in prison. Gisèle Pelicot, 72, is being celebrated around the world for choosing a public trial against her ex-husband and the 50 men he recruited to abuse her over 10 years, saying she was determined to make “shame swap sides.”

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

Painting the canvas away…

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TPO CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

You’re running out of time to procrastinate there, bucko! Go check out TPO’s Christmas Gift Guide. It has gift ideas starting at $6.