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U.S. NEWS

Flightmare

For the second-straight week, flight delays at Newark Liberty International Airport are stackin’ like luggage.

The Federal Aviation Administration is trying to mitigate staffing shortages (a long-running issue), tech failures, and bad weather hitting the Northeast corridor (Boston to D.C.). Thousands of flights have been delayed and hundreds canceled; United Airlines alone has cut 35 daily round-trips from its Newark hub.

United’s CEO said the final straw was when ~20% of air traffic controllers “walked off the job”—including at least five now on 45-day stress leave—after a 90-second radar outage led to “dozens of diverted flights.”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the FAA plans to hire 2,000 new controllers this year. But with a 3,000-controller shortfall and 18+ months of training for new hires, the runway to recovery appears long.

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
The unpredictability of manmade systems reminds us of God’s steadiness and consistency. Our true security isn’t found in any infrastructure of this world, but in Christ and the promise of the Kingdom to come.

“‘For I will create new heavens and a new earth… The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like cattle, but the serpent’s food will be dust! They will not do what is evil or destroy on my entire holy mountain,’ says the Lord.”
Isaiah 65:17, 25 (CSB) (read full passage)

WORLD NEWS

New Plans

Israel’s Security Cabinet has approved plans to control and indefinitely hold all of Gaza.

The plans reportedly call for Israeli troops to gradually reclaim all of Gaza, flattening any remaining buildings and moving all 2.1M Palestinian residents to a “humanitarian area” in southern Gaza.

Israel’s also switching up the flow of aid into Gaza. After a nine-week pause, Israel plans to use private companies and military hubs to distribute aid—changes that the U.N.’s humanitarian office criticized as an “attempt to weaponize the aid.”

An Israeli official said the new offensive wouldn’t begin until after President Trump’s planned trip to the Middle East next week, opening "a window of opportunity" for Hamas to discuss releasing the remaining 59 hostages and another ceasefire. Hamas said there would be “no point in any negotiations“ while Israel continues its “starvation war.”

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Join us in prayer for peace in Gaza, confident that God “hears the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29).

“Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Book of Common Prayer, page 816

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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Suit & Tie & Cape & Cane

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art rolled out the blue floral carpet Monday for the 77th annual Met Gala.

Menswear took center carpet at the fashion-forward fundraiser. This year’s dress code, “Tailored to You,” matched the museum’s spring exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which pays tribute to Black dandyism—a sharp-dressed style (think: luxury tailored suits, and bold accessories) started by Black freedmen in the mid 19th century and proliferated during the Harlem Renaissance.

The Gala—for which tickets cost a cool $75,000 a pop—raised over $31M for the Met’s Costume Institute. Celebrity attendees included former VP Kamala Harris and singer-turned-beauty-mogul Rihanna, who showed up fashionably late, debuting her newly announced (third) baby bump.

Check out the pinstriped parade of outfits—from singer Diana Ross’s family tree dress to rapper Andre 3000’s piano backpack.

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
The world has different priorities than God does, and many eternally insignificant things are compelling for a season. These things may not be wrong to follow, but neither should they consume our attention.

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Colossians 3:2-4 (CSB) (read full passage)

TPO snubbed again! Pulitzer Prize winners were announced Monday, with journalism awards going to news organizations for reporting on the fentanyl crisis (Reuters), Trump’s assassination attempt (Washington Post), and Elon Musk (Wall Street Journal). A Pulitzer spokesperson praised the work of journalists in the midst of “particularly difficult times for media and publishers in the U.S.” See all winners here. 
 

Jury selection began Monday in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering federal trial. Dozens of New Yorkers were asked about the case and potential celebrity witnesses. Prosecutors say Combs exploited women through a criminal enterprise; he’s pleaded not guilty and remains jailed. Four accusers will likely testify; if convicted, the 55-year-old could face life in prison.
 

Credit Suisse owes Uncle Sam some more swiss cheddar. The Swiss bank must pay $511M to the Justice Department after pleading guilty to helping “ultra-high-net-worth” Americans hide $4B in at least 475 offshore accounts and evade U.S. tax obligations. It’s a familiar story. Credit Suisse pleaded guilty to nearly identical charges back in 2014, paying $2.6B to settle the case.
 

President Trump wants to bring back “The Rock.” #47 has directed the Federal Bureau of Prisons to “substantial enlarge and rebuild Alcatraz,” saying it should once again house the country’s “most ruthless and violent offenders.” The infamous island prison, which closed in 1963 and is now a popular tourist attraction, would require massive upgrades to reopen.
 

The Trump administration’s “self-deportation” program now has a financial twist. The Department of Homeland Security announced Monday that migrants who “self-deport” would receive a free plane ticket plus $1,000, paid when they’re confirmed home. DHS claimed the program would cut deportation costs by ~70%, but advocacy groups are advising would-be participants to seek counsel before taking the offer.

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

Guess which year each photo was taken...

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