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U.S. NEWS

Doctor’s Orders

Uncle Sam’s doc is warning about the dangers of social media for children.

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy published an op-ed in the New York Times on Monday saying that “social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents” and calling on Congress to require warning labels similar to those used on cigarettes and alcohol.

A Pew Research Survey found 95% of teens ages 13-17 use social media, with 35% saying they use it “almost constantly.”

Dr. Murphy says a warning label is just a small step in the needed shift in social media culture; he also urged parents to introduce phone-free times and healthcare professionals to educate families. Adding a label would require action from Congress—where there is bipartisan support for online safety—and would likely face legal challenges from social media companies.

(We’re also covering this story Thursday in Decaf. Decaf is The Pour Over for Families. Sign up—for free—here.)
 
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Verse to consider when evaluating your own social media use… “Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves… everything that is not from faith is sin.”
Romans 14:22-23 (CSB) (read full passage)

POLITICS

Green Cards

President Biden announced a new policy giving 500k undocumented residents a streamlined pathway to citizenship.

The policy allows undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens and their noncitizen children to apply for green cards without leaving the country. To qualify for lawful permanent residency, spouses must have lived in America for 10+ years, have no criminal record, and have been married before Monday (so… no running to the courthouse today). The process takes roughly three years, during which time they’re protected from deportation.

The White House announced the decision two weeks after restricting asylum claims at the southern border, a crackdown that drew criticism from immigration advocates.

Some Republicans, including former President Trump, have criticized the policy as “mass amnesty” that will attract even more migrants to the U.S.-Mexico border. Expect legal challenges.

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ABOVE ALL, LOVE
While you likely have no control over immigration policy, you can control how you speak about it. Leave others with no doubt of your love for everyone involved, even for people whose actions you do not support.

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  
John 13:34–35 (CSB) (read full passage)

SPONSORED

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Blue Trust does more than answer “How much is enough?” They’re trusted brothers and sisters in Christ who can help you ask the right questions to prepare for your post-work season. How will I provide for others and be generous? How do taxes and inflation factor in? Am I making smart investment choices?

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WORLD NEWS

From Pyongyang with Love

Russian President Putin is in North Korea to have tea (and official talks) with Kim Jong Un. The meeting is widely believed to be about Russia purchasing ammunition from North Korea, both of whom are under strict international sanctions. Putin praised his ally’s support and promised to work with North Korea to oppose America’s “illegal” sanctions.

The meeting is just one of many headlines highlighting tensions between Russia and the West.

Russia recently announced that the trial of American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in 2023 on contested espionage charges, will begin June 26 behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, a record 23 of 32 NATO members are on track to spend 2% of GDP on defense—a fourfold increase since the start of the Ukraine war. President Biden says the increase is deterring “further Russian aggression.”

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Christians can pray for world leaders to pursue peace with wisdom 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)

Israel’s war cabinet is no more. PM Netanyahu’s centrist rival Benny Gantz resigned from the three-person cabinet Sunday in protest of Netanyahu’s “hesitancy and procrastination” in the war effort. The prime minister then dissolved the cabinet to avoid a politically thorny replacement decision. The larger security cabinet will continue to make war decisions while the U.S. urges restraint. 
 

The Boston Celtics are alone atop the NBA Championships leaderboard with 18 rings, one more than the Minneapolis/L.A. Lakers. The Celtics routed Dallas Sunday, 106-88, giving Veteran Al Horford his first championship in his 186th playoff game. Jaylen Brown was named Finals MVP, eight years after being booed by Boston fans when he was drafted 3rd overall. 
 

King George and Harry Potter won Tony awards Sunday… that is, Jonathan Groff (King George in the original Hamilton) and Daniel Radcliffe (you-know-who) took home Tonys for their roles in a revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along. Best Musical went to The Outsiders, while Stereophonic, about a 70s-era band recording an album, won best play.
 

Later, skater Scooter! Scooter Braun is retiring to family life; the music mogul is credited with discovering Justin Beiber and has managed stars like Ariana Grande and Kanye West. Braun already had bad blood with Taylor Swift before he infamously acquired and sold her first six masters without giving her “an opportunity to buy,” thus starting the “Taylor’s Version” re-recording era. 
 

Against all odds, NASA says Voyager 1 is fully back online. The deep-space probe, launched in 1977 for a five-year mission, is the farthest man-made object from Earth—currently over 15 billion miles away. Fixing it was quite the feat, as it takes 45 hours to hear back from Voyager on whether a command from mission control had the intended outcome.

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

A fun little sea creature you’ve likely never seen before…

What We’re Watching
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Join me in learning to “Think Biblically” this election year. Check out the 6-part video series for free today.

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