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A federal agent shot and killed a Minneapolis woman on Wednesday. 

The victim, 37-year-old Renee Good, was a U.S. citizen. Footage shows agents approaching her car—which was partially blocking a residential street during an ICE operation—ordering her to get out and attempting to open her door. Good then began to drive away when an agent fired through the windshield; it’s disputed whether he was at risk of being hit. 

DHS Secretary Noem and VP Vance say the agent acted in self-defense, accusing Good of “weaponizing” her vehicle after “stalking” agents all day. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) colorfully denounced that claim, telling ICE to leave the city.

Anti-ICE protests, some clashing with police, have spread across the country. Minneapolis schools closed over safety concerns, and Gov. Walz said the National Guard is standing by.

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PRAY WITH US
Good Shepherd, we come to You to still our burdened souls. Minister to Renee’s family as their world rips apart. Give ICE agents and local law enforcement peace to carry out their duties with faithfulness and integrity. Quiet anxiety, anger, and fear across the country. And protect believers from our enemy, whose seeds of hatred grow into weeds of discord that choke out our fruitfulness for Your kingdom.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith.”
1 Peter 5:6-9 (CSB) (read full passage)

On Wednesday, the USDA unveiled new dietary guidelines that flip the old ones on their heads… literally. 

The updated recommendations urge Americans to prioritize protein and healthy fats at every meal (see a breakdown here), represented by an inverted version of the original food pyramid (1992 to 2005’s rule of thumb plate). 

While guidelines—which impact SNAP rules and school lunches—still include lots of fruits and vegetables (sorry, kids), pasta has been booted to the bottom, ultraprocessed foods and sugar are out, and specific limits on alcohol were removed in favor of encouraging moderation. HHS Secretary RFK Jr. says the changes should push Americans to “eat real food.”

The American Heart Association commended many of the changes, but expressed concern that emphasis on red meat and full-fat dairy could spell bad news for America’s hearts.

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CHOOSE HUMILITY
Believers may respectfully disagree about dietary guidelines, but we can agree that our bodies are beautifully designed gifts from the Lord. Stewarding this gift well means both taking care of our own bodies and caring for our neighbors’ physical and spiritual needs.

“But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.”  
Luke 10:33-34 (CSB) (read full passage)

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Uncle Sam’s laying out his long-term strategy for Venezuela. 

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Rubio outlined the Trump Admin’s “threefold plan”: 

Rubio said the U.S. will “quarantine” 30-50M barrels of Venezuelan oil and manage its sale, ensuring profits “benefit the Venezuelan people, not corruption.” Democrats argue the admin is “stealing Venezuelan oil at gunpoint.” 

As part of its oil-quarantining efforts, the U.S. seized two Venezuelan-linked oil tankers in the North Atlantic on Wednesday. One of the sanctioned vessels—a Russian-flagged ship reportedly part of a “shadow fleet”—had been evading the Coast Guard for weeks. Russia called the capture “blatant piracy.” 

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Verse to consider whether you’re planning international relations, your retirement, or your next family vacation… “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” 
Romans 12:2 (CSB) (read full passage)

The American dream may get some regulations. President Trump is asking Congress to bar large investors from buying single-family homes as part of his plan to address affordability complaints. Some Democrats support the idea while others say it’ll have limited impact because institutional investors own <4% of single-family homes, and it doesn’t address the root issue: limited new construction.

The White House isn’t giving up on Greenland. Secretary of State Rubio added a meeting with Denmark and Greenland to next week’s calendar to discuss the mineral-rich, semiautonomous island’s future. President Trump reportedly wants to buy Greenland, though officials say he hasn’t ruled out using military force to get it. Greenland requested the meeting, and Denmark says the face-to-face “is needed.”

If you’ve been searching for change-color-on-command fingernails or a toilet with opinions, it’s your lucky day. CES 2026 is underway, and some of the latest and coolest consumer tech and gadgets are on display, including a laptop with an expandable screen, a sensor that analyzes your bowel movements, electrochemically color-changing press-on nails, and a TV that will follow you around.

The United States is leaving the chat. President Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday directing the U.S. to withdraw support from 66 international organizations and agreements deemed “wasteful, ineffective, or harmful.” (See the list here.) The administration framed the move as a prioritization of American interests; critics believe it reflects a retreat from global cooperation.

Two people were killed, and six were injured in a shooting outside a Mormon place of worship in Salt Lake City on Wednesday night. People were gathered for a funeral at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building when the incident occurred. Authorities continue to search for suspects, but do not believe the shooting was religiously motivated or random.

In otter news…

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