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ECONOMY

Trade Truce

Washington and Beijing have agreed to 90 days of trade kumbaya.

Under the deal, the U.S. and China have agreed to mutually lower reciprocal tariffs from 125% to 10%, though the U.S. will maintain an additional 20% tariff on Chinese goods (so, 30% total) meant to pressure Beijing on the flow of fentanyl into the States. China has also agreed to relax some nontariff trade barriers, such as easing the permitting process for American companies to mine rare earth minerals.

The S&P 500 took a gulp of fresh air after the announcement, jumping 3.2% on Monday.

Meanwhile, the stock market was less reactive to news that annual inflation dropped to 2.3% in April—its lowest rate since February 2021. Notably, egg prices fell 12.7% last month but are still up a budget-scrambling 50% from a year ago.

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Our hope is never contingent on an economic outcome; it’s much more secure than that. Regardless of whether things get worse or better during your lifetime, everything eventually ends well for followers of Christ.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Psalm 18:2 (CSB) (read full passage)

WORLD NEWS

Traveling Abroad

President Trump is makin’ his way downtown around the Middle East.

His economically focused four-day visit kicked off in Saudi Arabia yesterday, where POTUS met with Saudi officials to secure $600B+ in investment commitments into the U.S., including a $100B arms package. 

Today, Trump heads to Qatar, where he plans to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet from the Qatari royal family to use as Air Force One—sparking widespread backlash. Some Trump loyalists criticize accepting any gift from Qatar—a chief sponsor of Hamas—while security experts worry the president cannot be fully protected on a foreign-owned jet. Democrats say it would violate the Constitution’s ban on the president accepting foreign gifts without Congressional consent.

President Trump said the government would be “stupid” not to accept a free plane, blaming Boeing for delays in replacing the current 35-year-old presidential fleet.

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Verse to consider whether you have a world-altering work trip or spend your day folding laundry… “Commit your activities to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”
Proverbs 16:3 (CSB) (read full passage)

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LEGAL NEWS

On the Stand

Two high-profile trials are underway.

R&B singer Cassie, 38, took the witness stand yesterday in the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, a day after jurors watched a 2016 video of Combs assaulting her in an LA hotel. Through tears, she testified about the details of their relationship, saying Combs “controlled a lot of my life” and became violent “frequently.”

Combs has pleaded not guilty to the five charges he faces, including racketeering and sex trafficking. The trial is expected to last ~2 months.

Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian testified for five hours in a Paris courtroom against 10 men accused of tying her up and robbing her at gunpoint in 2016. She said she “absolutely” thought she would die and described her new security team as “pricey.”

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Our world is overwhelmed by violence and loss and by swirling and spiraling anxieties. Turn to Jesus for mercy, who Himself suffered violence and loss at the hands of those who hated Him. Pray that the hope Jesus offers through His compassionate people will turn hearts to the Lord, the only source of true comfort.

“On this mountain… [the LORD almighty will swallow] up death once and for all. The Lord God will wipe away the tears… On that day it will be said, ‘Look, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he has saved us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him. Let’s rejoice and be glad in his salvation.’”
Isaiah 25:7–9 (CSB) (read full passage)

Edan Alexander, 21, believed to be the last living American hostage held by Hamas, has been released. A New Jersey native, Alexander was serving in the Israeli army near the Gaza border when he was abducted more than 19 months ago. The Trump administration negotiated directly with Hamas, circumventing Israel, to secure Alexander’s emotional reunion with his family on Monday. 
 

President Trump wants lower drug prices. On Monday, #47 gave the Health Department and pharmaceutical companies 30 days to lower prescription drug prices by 50-90%, aiming to match prices charged abroad. Drugmakers argue such cuts would effectively halt the development of new drugs, ultimately harming patients. Critics say the executive order “lacks teeth” and is unlikely to meaningfully lower prices.
 

House Republicans have unveiled a proposal to cut $715B from Medicaid to fund President Trump’s tax and spending bill. The plan would require able-bodied Medicaid recipients to work 80 hours/month and introduce more frequent eligibility checks to cut “waste, fraud, and abuse.” Democrats argue the “shameful” bill would eliminate health coverage for 8.6M poor and disabled Americans.
 

Cryptothusiasts are celebrating. Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase is joining the S&P 500—an index fund of the 500 largest publicly traded U.S. companies—replacing credit card issuer Discover Financial, which is merging with its one-time rival Capital One. Coinbase is the first cryptocurrency company to join the famed S&P; the milestone happened days after bitcoin recrossed $100K.
 

“Okay, it’s happening. EVERYONE STAY CALM!” The Office is officially getting a spinoff. Coming to Peacock in September, the same “documentary crew” from Scranton will tell the story of a Toledo newspaper struggling to stay afloat in The Paper. The series will feature just one original Office character (Oscar Nuñez) alongside stars Domhnall Gleeson (AKA Bill Weasley) and Sabrina Impacciatore.

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

A purrfect Rube Goldberg machine…

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