POLITICS

Guess Who’s Back (Back, Back)

Back again from a five-week recess, the Senate and House face a full to-do list ahead of midterms.

Here’s what’s on the agenda:

• Finding a compromise on the (currently stalled) National Defense Authorization Act, which sets military policy and spending levels;
• Reauthorizing the Farm Bill (funds agricultural programs and SNAP) before its September 30 expiration;
• Addressing concerns over AI regulations as industry leaders raise alarms;
• A crypto framework bill snagged in debate over how strictly to enforce conflict-of-interest rules on President Trump’s holdings; and
• A stalled bipartisan college sports bill that would set guardrails for how athletes get paid for their name, image, and likeness (NIL).

Also back: Sen. McConnell (R-KY) after a months-long, health-related absence. The House breaks again next week, and the Senate in three weeks, to campaign ahead of November.

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PRAY WITH US
Righteous Lawgiver, give wisdom to our fallen leaders legislating in a fallen world, so that they might manage sin-caused challenges with dignity and skill. Direct their steps so they direct a diverse country toward flourishing and peace. Give them insight into the needs of their constituents so they might serve out of love instead of performing for gain. Give them favor among colleagues, so they might earn trust and negotiate in good faith.

And when they disagree on the best way forward, may they model gentleness, respect, and humility, creatively compromising to bring about the good of the public. Strengthen them for long, hard days. Thank you for those who serve with humility and skill, and thank you for our representative, Jesus, whose purifying work cleanses us from the inside out so we might walk in obedience to Your law. Amen. (read full prayer here)

ENTERTAINMENT

The Emmy Goes to…

The small screen had its big night Monday.

Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay stole the show at the 78th Emmy Awards, winning Outstanding Comedy en route to a comedy-record 14 statuettes. Its star, Matthew Rhys, left with a trophy in each hand, completing the first-ever lead-acting trifecta by adding Comedy (Widow’s Bay) and Limited Series (The Beast in Me) to Drama (The Americans, 2018).

The Pitt repeated as Outstanding Drama, Jean Smart (Hacks) and Allison Janney (The Diplomat) joined a four-way tie for most acting Emmys ever (8), and Stephen Colbert’s show won in its final season.

Olivia Benson Mariska Hargitay was the first female host in 15 years and brought Taylor Swift along (well, sort of). Dolly Parton, Catherine O’Hara, and Rob Reiner were honored; and the biggest surprise went to… the telecast ending three minutes early. See every winner.

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Verse to consider when you win the award, make the shot, close the deal, or nail a meal: “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
James 1:16-17 (CSB) (read full passage)

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POLITICS

Postal Proceedings

The Trump Administration’s new mail-in ballot rules won’t be delivered by midterms.

On Monday, SCOTUS voted 7-2 to reject the admin’s third emergency appeal to use new Postal Service rules to restrict mail-in voting in 2026 (see a rules refresher here). The High Court’s conservative majority split on the issue: Justice Kavanaugh concurred, writing it’s “fair” for USPS to make the changes, but “arbitrary and capricious” to implement them ahead of midterms; Justices Alito and Thomas dissented, saying USPS has “broad authority to regulate the mail.”

Democrats and voting rights groups, which warned of “disenfranchisement,” called the ruling a “victory for our democracy.” President Trump, who ordered the changes to combat alleged voter fraud, said it “makes cheating… much easier.”

With litigation ongoing, TBD if the snail mail authority will try to stamp its new rules into effect in 2027.

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ABOVE ALL, LOVE
No matter which side of the ideological aisle you sit on, remember that you’re called to love those sitting next to you and those sitting opposite you. Let your attitudes, words, and actions reflect that unconditional love.

“You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew 5:43-45 (CSB) (read full passage)

President Trump is rejecting calls for AI guardrails. After the CEOs of Anthropic, OpenAI, and xAI said AI development should slow down, #47 argued there are already government safeguards and that further restrictions would benefit China in the AI race, noting “whoever wins AI, wins.” Beijing also dismissed the warnings as “fearmongering,” prompting critics to warn geopolitical one-upmanship is overshadowing safety.

(Discipling kids in the AI age? We’re covering this story tomorrow at a 7th-grade reading level with biblical reflection and action steps in Decaf: The Pour Over for Families. Sign up for free in just one click to get it in your inbox.)


Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour will have no more Macklemore. Scratched for his set’s “Free Palestine” segments, Macklemore said it’d still be his “most successful tour” if the conversation returned to Palestine. His removal came after Patriots owner Robert Kraft said his “deeply offensive” history went against Gillette Stadium’s “welcoming environment.” Four supporting artists quit yesterday, saying “artists shall not be silenced.”


The EPA is scrapping greenhouse gas limits on power plants. Administrator Zeldin said Monday that reversing Biden-era pollution rules saves $310B and helps “unleash” American energy, arguing fossil-fuel power plants don’t “contribute significantly to dangerous pollution.” However some analyses forecasted the to-be-slashed regulations were estimated to prevent 30,000 deaths/year and save $275B annually. Legal challenges are expected.


Uncle Sam’s weapons are running low because of the Iran war according to the Pentagon’s inspector general. The watchdog’s report tallied a ~$33.4B bill through June, with munitions costing ~$22.3B alone; military experts warn stockpile replenishment could take years. Meanwhile in orbit, Space Force officials confirmed Monday that the U.S. has weapons above Earth for “offensive and defensive purposes.”


60 Minutes opened its 59th season Sunday, featuring the rescue story of two U.S. airmen shot down over Iran in April. Sitting for the interview alone, “Bravo” detailed how he and “Alpha” hid from local forces before their complex rescues (declassified: see how they got out). CNN alleged military officials pressured the pair to participate to “craft the narrative,” which the Pentagon deemed “a complete lie.”

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

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