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The third round of “No Kings” protests hit the streets on Saturday.

Organizers report that millions of protestors across 3,000+ locations in all 50 states and 16 countries rallied against an all-of-the-above list of grievances against the Trump administration, including the Iran war, economic pressures, immigration enforcement, and the partial government shutdown.

An estimated 200,000 gathered at the flagship rally in Minnesota—epicenter of last winter's immigration crackdown and two fatal shootings—featuring Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Bruce Springsteen performing his protest anthem "Streets of Minneapolis."

A majority of protests were peaceful, though authorities deployed tear gas near a federal detention center in Los Angeles after protesters failed to disperse, and Denver saw eight arrests for blocking a road. The White House called the events “Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions” backed by “leftist funding networks.”

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ABOVE ALL, LOVE
Public displays of political passion can make us keenly aware of our ideological friends and foes. While there is freedom in how Christians respond, that freedom doesn’t include hating our political opponents. Before you’re tempted to judge or belittle, consider praying for a friend with whom you disagree or send them a message of 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.”
Matthew 5:43-44 (CSB) (read full passage)

Congress left for spring break without funding DHS.

In the wee hours of Friday morning, the Senate passed a bill by unanimous consent to fund most of DHS—including TSA, the Coast Guard, and FEMA—while leaving ICE and border security unfunded. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) rejected the measure, calling it “a joke,” saying any bill must fund immigration enforcement and include a voter ID provision. House Republicans quickly passed an eight-week stopgap to fund all of DHS, which Senate Democrats declared “dead on arrival.” 

Both chambers are now on recess until April 13, hoping to find a solution in their easter baskets.

Airport security chaos could end sooner, though: DHS says TSA employees should start getting paid as soon as today under President Trump’s executive order signed Friday. 

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
If our hope is based on political negotiations or economic security, then we live in fear because we could lose everything. But if our hope is rooted in the eternal security provided by Christ, then we can weather any storm—even government shutdown. 

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’s blood and righteousness… On Christ the solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”
Edward Mote, 1863 (Scriptural basis: Ps 18:2; Matt 7:24; Heb 13:8)

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Strikes and shortages continue in the monthlong war.

On Friday, 12 U.S. troops were wounded in an Iranian drone/missile attack on a U.S. base in Saudi Arabia; it’s one of the most serious breaches of American air defenses yet.

As strikes intensify—U.S. Central Command has reported hitting 11,000 Iranian targets so far—American troops are reportedly arriving in the region. The USS Tripoli arrived in the Middle East Saturday with 3,500 service members aboard, prompting Iranian officials to accuse Uncle Sam of talking about negotiations while “secretly planning a ground invasion.” Washington says it can win “without any ground troops.”

Meanwhile, Asia and Australia are feeling the Strait of Hormuz’s slowdown. The Philippines declared a national energy emergency; Down Under, localized petrol shortages led to panic buying, prompting government reassurances that the national supply is stable.

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Verse to consider whether a conflict in your own life is de-escalating or just getting started… “What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from your passions that wage war within you? You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask… Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
James 4:1-2, 7-8 (CSB) (read full passage)

The fellas’ Final Four is set. #2 UConn capped a busy weekend in college hoops by buzzer-beating top-seeded Duke to reach the NCAA semis (watch the final 2 minutes). The Huskies will be joined by Arizona, Michigan, and #3 Illinois, who ended #9 Iowa’s bracket-busting bid (go Hawks!). The quest to cut down the nets resumes Saturday in Indianapolis. The Women’s Final Four gets decided tonight.

Tiger Woods was arrested on suspicion of DUI after a rollover car crash on Friday afternoon and released on bail later that night. Investigators reportedly suspect a drug or medication-related impairment; Woods passed a breathalyzer test but refused a urine test, resulting in a separate misdemeanor charge. No one was injured in the golfing great’s fourth high-profile crash since 2009.

The House Ethics Committee found Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) guilty of 25 ethics violations Friday. Congress’s rare public hearing (not a trial… we can explain) centered on allegations that she stole $5M in COVID relief funds, funneling some to her 2022 campaign. The lawmaker denies wrongdoing but faces bipartisan calls for her resignation and a criminal trial set to begin next month.

Savannah Guthrie will return to NBC’s Today on April 6 while the search for her mother stretches into its eighth week. The co-host says the family still doesn’t “know anything” about why Nancy (84) was abducted but believes anchoring is “part of [her] purpose right now.” The sheriff overseeing the investigation faces calls to resign for undisclosed disciplinary issues at a previous department.

A pro-Iranian hacking group got its hands on the FBI Director’s Gmail. The group, Handala, breached Kash Patel’s personal email Friday, posting years-old photos, a resume, and other documents online. The FBI confirmed the breach, saying the information “is historical… and involves no government information.” Handala said the attack was retaliation for the FBI’s recent seizure of the group’s domains.

Some niiiiice lawn edging...

Why I Love Work Trips
Because the TPO office stays stocked with LMNT*

I work remotely, but when I visit TPO HQ for our quarterly retreats, I’m always stoked to see my coworkers the office’s LMNT stash. Work breeeeezes by when I’m sippin’ on that refreshing, salty goodness, especially now that Sparkling LMNT fills the fridge. 

LMNT’s science-backed, zero-sugar electrolyte ratio helps you stay hydrated without the sugar, dyes, and junk found in most sports drinks. Plus, electrolytes are essential for avoiding headaches, fatigue, and brain fog… so it’s truly my retreat MVP. 

Try LMNT for yourself and get a free drink mix sample pack! See how much more enjoyable hydrating can be when you’re stocked with LMNT.

Xan Sibley | Writer

What I’m Still Thinking About Days Later
This inspiring movie*

My parents always had to drag me out of museums… yeah, I was that kid. So when I heard the premise of “A Great Awakening,” I was hooked. 

Until I watched this movie, I’d never connected the First Great Awakening with America’s founding identity, but they’re intertwined. Something else I never knew? Benjamin Franklin and Rev. George Whitefield—a skeptic and a preacher—were friends. It was a powerful reminder: God can work through unlikely people to shape history. 

Don’t miss your chance to see “A Great Awakening!” Watch it in theaters (and only in theaters) on April 3.

Michala Cox | Administrative Assistant

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