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 Like many popular British TV shows, TikTok’s getting an American spin-off. 

U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent announced Monday that Uncle Sam has a “framework” agreement with China to move TikTok’s American operations from its current owner, ByteDance, to a U.S. buyer. Bessent declined to share deets about the agreement—like who the new owners will be or who will control TikTok’s algorithm—but said the White House will prioritize “national security” in negotiations. Sources suggest multiple investors will be involved.

The announcement keeps TikTok from going dark in the States again (its sale-or-farewell deadline was today), though Bessent said the White House would repost another 90-day extension to finalize the transfer.

President Trump and Chinese leader Xi will chat on Friday to seal the deal, talk tariffs, and potentially plan a Xi-Trump summit in Beijing later this fall. 

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Verse to consider when you’re evaluating how you use social media… “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.” 
Philippians 4:8-9 (CSB) (read full chapter)

Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer appeared in court yesterday. 

In his first public appearance since the shooting, the 22-year-old joined the hearing by video from Utah County Jail, where he’s being held without bail. He faces charges including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and related felonies. Cited evidence included DNA on a towel wrapped around a rifle and a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop, plus a digital trail of texts and a confession on Discord—a gamer chat app. 

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

On Monday, Vice President Vance guest-hosted The Charlie Kirk Show from the White House as a tribute. He called “left-wing extremism” an “incredibly destructive movement,” saying it was “part of the reason” Kirk was killed by an assassin's bullet, and urged the public to call out anyone celebrating Kirk’s murder.

CORRECTION: In Monday’s newsletter, we said the suspect had attended Utah Valley University (the site of the shooting). This was incorrect; he attended Utah State for one semester in 2021.

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Injustice stirs up longing in us for a better world, where justice always wins and righteousness is never corrupted. As you wait, celebrate the patience of your merciful Father and live holy lives, anticipating His coming.

“The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” 
2 Peter 3:9 (CSB) (read full passage)

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Israel’s long-expected ground offensive into Gaza City is underway.

Overnight Monday, a wave of near-continuous bombing reduced neighborhoods to rubble as Israel seeks “the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas.” Israel’s military warned Palestinians to leave the “dangerous combat zone” that PM Netanyahu calls Hamas’s “main stronghold”; hundreds of thousands have evacuated to a southern humanitarian zone, but Israel believes 600,000 civilians, thousands of Hamas fighters, and a number of Hamas-held hostages remain in Gaza City.

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said there’s “a very short window of time” for a ceasefire, urging Qatar to continue mediating despite Israel’s failed attempt to eliminate Hamas leadership in a Doha airstrike last week. 

Meanwhile, Israel is facing fresh allegations of genocide after a U.N. investigation.

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PRAY WITH US
Join us in prayer for long-term peace, confident that God is able to spread across the globe the peace He has given to those who trust Him (Isaiah 26:3). 

Gracious peacemaker, in the hearts and lands of these embattled countries, work peace. Thwart evil plans and bring to fruition those that lead to flourishing. May their leaders be creative in their problem-solving, wise in their choice of counselors, clear-eyed in their negotiating, and compassionate toward the needy, humbly considering the good of others before their own gain and attributing all the glory to you alone.

President Trump wants to nix quarterly earnings reports. On Truth Social, he argued the move (pending SEC approval) would cut costs and let managers “focus on properly running their companies.” The SEC is looking into it. Many executives agree, saying quarterly updates fuel short-termism instead of encouraging long-term sustainability. Others counter that quarterly updates foster transparency and informed investments.

The Fed’s back in the spotlight. The central bank is expected to cut rates today, lowering borrowing costs as the labor market cools. The Senate confirmed President Trump’s nominee for a vacant Fed governorship on Monday—in time for him to cast a vote today—while an appeals court ruled Trump could not fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook for alleged mortgage fraud.

The White House announced Monday that the U.S struck another alleged Venezuelan drug boat, killing three. The second strike in two weeks comes amid a military crackdown on “drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists” in international waters; President Trump suggested operations may move to land, too. Critics question the legality of identifying cartels as terrorists and using lethal force.

Robert Redford, Oscar-winning actor and director, passed away yesterday, “surrounded by those he loved” at the age of 89. The Hollywood heartthrob, whose career spanned over six decades, was known for roles in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Natural, and All the President’s Men. Redford also founded the Sundance Film Festival, the country’s biggest indie film fest.

Digital assistants are carving out niches. This week, Anthropic and OpenAI shared usage studies: ChatGPT takes the cake for personal tasks like “practical guidance, seeking information, and writing,” while Claude dominates at work-related tasks like coding, research, and education. Women now make up half of ChatGPT’s users—a massive shift from early adopters—and half of all chats come from Gen Z.

Interested in how The Pour Over uses AI? Check out our FAQs here.

When you try to help a buddy out... but just make it worse.

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