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South Carolina’s Supreme Court overturned Alex Murdaugh’s murder conviction Wednesday. 

The court ruled unanimously that former Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill exercised “improper external influences” during Murdaugh’s 2023 trial. One juror said Hill told him “not to be fooled by the evidence Murdaugh’s defense presented.” She later published a tell-all book about the case.

Once a prominent South Carolina attorney, Murdaugh, 57, was convicted in 2023 of fatally shooting his wife and 22-year-old son at the family’s Lowcountry estate in June 2021. He’ll remain jailed, serving a 40-year federal sentence for stealing ~$12M from clients and a concurrent 27-year state sentence for financial crimes.

Murdaugh’s defense called the ruling a vindication of his rights to a fair trial. SC Attorney General Alan Wilson vowed to retry Murdaugh; no new trial date is set.

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Whether justice is served or subverted in American courts, we can count on perfect justice and inexhaustible mercy from the courts of heaven. The Lord is not swayed by the power and wealth that tempt us toward partiality, and his verdicts restore what sin has broken. 

“The Rock—his work is perfect; all his ways are just. A faithful God, without bias, he is righteous and true.” 
Deuteronomy 32:4 (CSB) (read full passage)

The U.S. and China are wrapping up a high-stakes two-day summit in Beijing today. 

Chinese leader Xi Jinping rolled out the red carpet for President Trump and several AI and Wall Street titans—including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who snagged a last-minute invite—with a welcome parade (see photos) ahead of meetings on trade, AI, and Iran. 

The warm welcome came with a side of Beijing beef. Xi warned the U.S.-China relationship would be “in an extremely dangerous situation” if Uncle Sam’s position on Taiwan—in a long-standing feud with China over independence—was “handled poorly.” 

Later, at a state dinner, Trump called the meetings “positive,” while Xi said the two countries should “be partners, not rivals.” Both leaders agreed Iran shouldn’t tax vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, and Trump invited Xi to the White House in September.

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CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
Christians should be committed to praying for world leaders to be wise and to work toward 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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Late Wednesday, gunshots rang out inside the Philippine Senate where a politician wanted by the International Criminal Court was hiding out. 

Senator “Bato” dela Rosa took refuge in the Senate Monday after the ICC unsealed a warrant for his arrest on suspicion of crimes against humanity. Dela Rosa was national police chief under former Philippine President Duterte, enforcing anti-drug efforts that killed thousands. Duterte was arrested in March 2025 and faces a trial for the killings carried out by his administration.

Wednesday evening, dela Rosa went live on Facebook, asking the public to prevent authorities from arresting him. Gunfire erupted shortly after, and dela Rosa fled amid the chaos; his whereabouts are currently unknown.

Officials say nobody was hurt and they’ve identified a suspected shooter: a driver associated with the country’s National Bureau of Investigation.

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A verse to consider when headlines about crime and corruption weigh on you… “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” 
Psalm 23:4 (CSB) (read full passage)

Warsh got the keys to the Central Bank. Wednesday, the Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh in a 54-45 vote—the slimmest in modern history—to succeed Fed Chair Powell. Powell’s term as chairman expires today, but he’ll remain in a governor seat until that term ends in 2028. Meanwhile, Warsh inherits an inflation rate stuck above-2% and a board divided over interest rate cuts.

Zohran Mamdani’s been doing some Big Apple bookkeeping. New York City’s mayor announced Tuesday that his administration had balanced the city’s ~$125B 2027 budget—closing a $12B deficit without raising property taxes—thanks to ~$4B in additional state aid and a revised debt-payment schedule. Critics are calling the budget a “gimmick” and say residents will have to pay up in future years.

The 2026 World Cup will come with a hat-trick of musical guests. Yesterday, FIFA teamed up with Coldplay’s Chris Martin and several Muppets (see the video) to announce the nearly 100-year-old fútbol tourney’s first Super Bowl-style halftime show. Madonna, Shakira, and the recently reunited BTS all scored headlining spots to perform during July 19’s World Cup Final at Metlife Stadium.

PCOS is rebranding. Polycystic ovary syndrome—a hormonal condition affecting ~1 in 8 women globally—has been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) after an 11-year, 22,000-person review. Experts say the new name reflects the condition’s hormonal and metabolic complexity rather than how it appears on scans—noting “cysts” are really immature follicles, not true cysts—and should help reduce (and rectify) misdiagnoses.

Kevin O’Leary’s takin’ the tank to the desert. Last week, Utah officials approved a proposal—backed by Shark Tank’s Mr. Wonderful—to build an AI datacenter twice the size of Manhattan despite thousands of objections. O’Leary says the project will create thousands of jobs, but environmentalists are sounding alarms over the facility’s 9GW energy needs (more than the entire state currently uses).

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What We’re Helping Build
Resilient communities, alongside World Concern*

The truth about ending world hunger? Giving food is just the first step. Real freedom is found when hungry communities are taught to use their resources.

World Concern does exactly that: equips struggling, drought-stricken communities with the know-how to grow sustainable crops using farmland and irrigation systems. In Kenya’s Sero Village, children roast corn in the fields, something unthinkable before World Concern came along… and stayed. 

Communities can’t get there alone. This week, TPO is matching $10K dollar-for-dollar, so your gift goes twice as far to make sure a family in Africa eats tomorrow (and the next day and the next). Stand with them today.

What We’re Supporting
Safe House Project*

Most of us picture human trafficking ending in a dramatic rescue with doors being kicked in and victims being pulled to safety. But that’s rarely how it works. More often, it ends in a single moment of courage—a decision to run or walk away. And in that moment, everything hangs on one question: “Where will I go?”

Leaving doesn’t guarantee freedom. Without a safe place to land, many survivors are pulled right back into the situation they risked everything to escape from. Safe House Project exists for exactly that moment—connecting survivors with trusted safe homes, counseling, medical support, and a real path forward. 

Learn more by watching this short video!