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WORLD NEWS

Up In Smoke

The U.K. is looking to raise up the world’s first “smoke-free generation.”

The House of Lords passed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill Tuesday; royal approval is expected within days. Starting January 1, 2027, the U.K.’s legal smoking age will rise by one year every year—meaning anyone born after 2008 will never be able to buy tobacco legally (sellers will face penalties). 

Proposed by then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in 2023, the bill also lets the government regulate vape flavours and bans vaping near playgrounds, schools, and hospitals. 

The U.K.’s Health Secretary said the law will “save lives, ease pressure on the NHS, and build a healthier Britain“; smoking costs the National Health Service ~£3B ($3.8B) yearly. Critics argue it creates “two tiers” of adults and overrides personal freedoms.

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Verse to consider when evaluating how to honor God with your habits… “‘Everything is permissible,’ but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible,’ but not everything builds up… So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” 
1 Corinthians 10:23, 31 (CSB) (read full passage)

WORLD NEWS

Strait Outta Office

The U.S. Navy is shaking things up at home and at sea.

The Pentagon announced Wednesday that Naval Secretary John Phelan is “departing… effective immediately,” and Undersecretary Hung Cao is taking over temporarily. The department didn’t provide a reason for Phelan’s abrupt departure—the latest of several top military leaders to leave. 

The move comes as naval activity abroad is testing the renewed U.S.-Iran ceasefire. Iranian forces seized two container ships near the Strait of Hormuz Wednesday, claiming they were operating “without permits.” President Trump says the U.S. has “total control” over the passage and has ordered the navy to “shoot and kill any boat” putting mines in the strait as it continues sweeping. 

Meanwhile, in the Indian Ocean, U.S. forces have taken at least two tankers believed to be carrying Iranian oil.

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
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)

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U.S. NEWS

Lines in the Sand

In the latest round of the nation’s redistricting battle, a state judge blocked Virginia Democrats’ redistricting efforts 24 hours after voter approval.

Tuesday, Virginians passed a constitutional amendment allowing lawmakers to redraw the congressional map (see proposed version), taking Dems in the Old Dominion from a 6-5 edge to potentially a 10-1 edge ahead of midterms. 

The Republican National Committee immediately sued, prompting a state circuit court judge to rule the referendum unconstitutional Wednesday—citing a violated 90-day notice requirement and “flagrantly misleading” language. Virginia AG Jay Jones (D) promised to appeal the ruling. 

Meanwhile, Rep. David Scott (GA-D) died at age 80, his office said Wednesday. Scott was a 12-term lawmaker and the first Black chair of the House Agriculture Committee. His vacant seat puts Congress at 218 Republicans and 212 Democrats with five vacancies.

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
We shouldn’t let lines on a map cause division in our hearts. What believers have in common is much more powerful than our differences—political, social, or geographical. Rejoice in the unity we have in Christ, and strive to maintain that in all you do and say. 

“Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit​—​just as you were called to one hope at your calling—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians 4:1-6 (CSB) (read full passage)

With the first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders selected (to no one’s surprise) Fernando Mendoza. The 2025 Heisman-winning quarterback kicked off this year’s roster rodeo in Pittsburgh, PA (see who else got picked). The second and third rounds begin tonight, and selection ends Saturday when the Broncos (for now) choose this year’s “Mr. Irrelevant.”
 

The Senate broke the ICE. Yesterday, the Upper Chamber passed a $70B, 3.5-year funding plan for ICE and Border Patrol in a 50-48, only-GOP-supported vote. The resolution, which used budget reconciliation to sidestep a Democratic filibuster, now heads to the House; if passed, it unlocks the door to reopening DHS (partially shut down since mid-February over demands for immigration enforcement reforms).
 

Michael moonwalks into theaters this weekend, one year and $10-$15M in reshoots later. The long-awaited biopic (starring the King of Pop’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson) was forced to scrap its original ending focusing on Jackson’s child-abuse allegations when filmmakers learned that a legal settlement barred accuser depictions. Analysts project a $65M+ opening weekend despite a 33% Rotten Tomatoes score.
 

Meta told its employees: 🎶 “Every click you make, every stroke you take, we’ll be watching you.” The company announced it’s installing software on employees’ computers to track mouse movements and keystrokes and grab the occasional screenshot to train AI. Tracking is only approved for work-related apps and doesn’t have an opt-out option. Employees are calling the initiative a surveillance overreach.
 

Tesla’s going all-in on the robots. The EV-maker beat Wall Street’s Q1 earnings expectations* Wednesday, reporting $22.4B in revenue (+16% YoY), and announced plans to spend a record $25B this year building out its Optimus humanoid robots and autonomous Cybercab. CEO Elon Musk called Optimus “probably the biggest product ever”—Tesla’s or otherwise—with production starting in late July.

*Wondering what this has to do with Wall Street? TPO Explains is shallow-diving into stocks tomorrow. Subscribe to TPO’s channel on YouTube to watch the episode when it drops!

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

Some satisfying log splitting…

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