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WORLD NEWS

Covert Operations

The CIA’s going undercover in Venezuela. 

On Wednesday, President Trump confirmed that he authorized the CIA to conduct potentially lethal covert operations in Venezuela, increasing pressure against Nicolas Maduro—the country’s authoritarian President who is in power despite credible evidence that he lost reelection.

It’s rare for a President to comment on intelligence operations in foreign countries, but Trump acknowledged the operation, saying Venezuela has “emptied their prisons” into the States and smuggled in “a lot of drugs.” Uncle Sam reportedly plans to continue combating “narcoterrorism” by sea and is also “looking at land.” 

Maduro responded over Venezuelan airwaves, saying, “No to CIA-orchestrated coups,” later saying he was mobilizing forces to defend the country. 

The day before, Trump announced the U.S. had conducted its fifth recent strike on a vessel off the coast of Venezuela, killing six alleged “narcoterrorists.”

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Verse to consider when conflict is heating up in your own home… “Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.” 
Philippians 2:5-8 (CSB) (read full chapter)

WORLD NEWS

Gaza Ceasefire Holding

Israel and Hamas are continuing their hostage-prisoner exchange.

Since Monday, they’ve traded 90 deceased Palestinians for eight Hamas-held bodies, seven of which have been identified as hostages.  Hamas says it needs “special equipment” to reach 19 remaining hostage bodies, which are buried under rubble that may contain explosives. Israel is demanding that Hamas make a “greater effort” to return them.

The delay is raising fears that the ceasefire won’t hold; the U.S. says Hamas hasn’t broken the truce and intends to “honor” it. 

Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israel is preparing to open the Rafah Crossing—the sole Gaza-Egypt border entry—for people (but humanitarian aid will only come through Israel-Gaza border entry points). Hamas is reasserting control where Israel has withdrawn, clashing with rival militias and those accused of collaborating with Israel. 

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RADIATE HOPE
As we mourn violence and pray for peace to hold in the Middle East, believers are reminded of how good the news is of Jesus’s coming kingdom. His Spirit offers supernatural peace in our hearts today, and His return promises unbreakable peace in a renewed earth forever. 

“‘For I will create new heavens and a new earth… The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like cattle, but the serpent’s food will be dust! They will not do what is evil or destroy on my entire holy mountain,’ says the LORD.” 
Isaiah 65:17, 25 (CSB) (read full passage)

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U.S. NEWS

Pressing Matters

Dozens of defense reporters turned in their Pentagon badges on Wednesday instead of signing a new press “pledge” from War Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The new rules, first introduced last month, took effect Tuesday night—prompting a mass exodus from the building’s press offices. Over 30 major outlets, including ABC, NBC, CBS, The Washington Post, NYT, WSJ, AP, Newsmax, and even Hegseth’s former employer, Fox News, refused to sign. Only one major outlet, One America News, agreed.

The pledge bars journalists from obtaining or using any unapproved material, even if it’s unclassified—a restriction critics say lets the Pentagon “spoon-feed” information and control the narrative. Hegseth defended the move, saying “Pentagon access is a privilege, not a right” and the building now has the “same rules as every U.S. military installation.”

Reporters say they’ll keep covering the Pentagon regardless.

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PRAY WITH US
Controversial policies are likely to spark heated debate. Remember that both your stance and how you take your stance reflect on Christ (Ephesians 4:15).

“O Lord, let those who claim your name do no harm to it by their abrasiveness and impatience, but rather, speaking your precious truth in love, let them present your story winsomely that it might be well-loved, and that others might be drawn to your goodness, your beauty.” 
Every Moment Holy, Volume 3, page 376

It’s Day 17 of the government shutdown, and the Senate’s still in a standoff. Yesterday, the Upper Chamber failed to pass a temporary spending bill (for the 10th time) and the standalone Defense spending bill (which previously had bipartisan support). Meanwhile, a U.S. district judge temporarily blocked the Trump admin from laying off thousands of federal workers. 
 

An old map-drawing fight is reigniting. After hearing Louisiana v. Callais on Wednesday, the Supreme Court appears poised to weaken the 1965 Voting Rights Act by narrowing Section 2, which prohibits maps that dilute minority voting power. Louisiana was forced to add a second majority-Black district, but non-Black voters now argue that the change violated the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause.
 

The Big Apple Boss race is heating up. Zohran Mamdani—a democratic socialist New York State Assemblyman since 2021—held a double-digit poll lead over former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Silwa (R) ahead of last night’s mayoral debate. Cuomo, running as an independent, has gained some ground on Mamdani with three weeks until election day.
 

Facebook has scrapped an ICE lookout page. The Justice Department said Meta complied with its request to remove a page allegedly being used to harass ICE agents in Chicago. AG Pam Bondi said it was part of a coordinated effort to “dox and target” about 200 officers deployed under President Trump’s immigration enforcement push. Meta said the page violated its “coordinated harm” policy.
 

Crustless, UFO-shaped PB&J is feeding a legal battle between Smuckers and Trader Joe’s. The Uncrustables-maker is suing the Hawaiian-shirt grocery chain for infringing on Smuckers’ trademarks—pie-shaped, crimped, once-bitten, turquoise branding—with its copycat (compare the thaw-and-eat sammies). Smuckers said it spent $1B developing the goodwill surrounding the favorite snack shared by 5th graders, firefighters, and NFL players.

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

Mini-horse zoomies…

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