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Happy Wednesday!
Some days the headlines feel heavier than usual… Remember God is on the throne and He’s good. Seek His kingdom, and trust Him to take care of the rest.

And if you feel like our Christ-first approach helps you consume hard news without the hopelessness, share it with someone who could use that too. Anyone who refers 2+ people by the end of today will win a free month of Verse to Consider: TPO’s monthly verse memory kit. Click here to send this prewritten text to anyone who needs it.

OpenAI hit ctrl-z on its most advanced ChatGPT model yet.

On Monday, OpenAI said it was scrapping GPT-6.1 Astra after its safety systems head said the top-tier bot struggled to stay “within scope and authorization” and communicate “back to the user” during testing. (See what an AI model actually is.)

Despite scratching GPT-6.1 Astra from the AI race, OpenAI announced a lineup of new features at its developer conference yesterday, as “stop-the-AI-race” protesters rallied outside. Top of the lineup: brand-new, “always on” AI agents called bots Dots, designed to be “an extension of you” and rival assistants like Meta’s Muse.

Meanwhile, Nvidia is reining in AI… with more AI. The chipmaker debuted a new safety platform to corral rogue agents in “milliseconds.” Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who previously criticized warnings that AI could threaten humanity, wrote that “safety is how trust is earned.”

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Whether you’re thrilled by innovation or intimidated by new threats, live with joy and pursue holiness because believers already know how this story ends. Technology will never outsmart God or thwart His plan to renew and glorify all who are in Christ.

“But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace.”
2 Peter 3:13-14 (CSB) (read full passage)

*Warning: this story contains mentions of sexual assault, and linked resources may contain graphic details. Please read and click with caution.*

New York prosecutors have reopened a 2024 sexual assault case at Cornell University.

The former student, identified as Jane Doe, alleges she was drugged and assaulted by seven men at the since-barred Chi Phi fraternity’s house, later filing a complaint with campus police. Doe’s attorney says two fraternity members were expelled and five received lesser sanctions, but investigators didn’t follow up with her and no arrests were made.

Doe is now suing Cornell University and the seven fraternity members.

The District Attorney said his office will present evidence to a grand jury, and that criminal charges weren’t pursued in 2024 because Doe’s original statement described the substance use and conduct as consensual. Cornell says it supports reopening the case, but that any suggestion it didn’t “impose consequential punishments for those involved is false.”

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Unlike district courts or the court of public opinion, the Ultimate Judge is able to arbitrate this case with perfect wisdom, compassion, and justice. It can be easy to feel stunned by the brokenness we meet in headlines, but we can lean on our Wonderful Counselor. Let’s give this case to Him:

Just Lord, bend near to the brokenhearted caught up in the web of media coverage, public scrutiny, and speculation. When they feel that justice is far off, take this crushing weight off their shoulders. Catch each of their sorrowful tears in Your bottle and show them that this sad chapter is not the end of the story You are writing. May they not put their trust in the outcome of this case but in You, the only source of true closure. Amen.

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Playing bipartisan defense on college sports’ “Wild West” era, the Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act 77-22 Monday.

Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) crafted the bill after a 2021 Supreme Court ruling allowing athlete pay triggered unregulated bidding for players and a turnstile transfer portal. The legislation:

Critics, including Cory Booker (D-NJ), say the bill backpedals on athletes’ power, granting the NCAA an antitrust shield to cap pay while leaving coaches’ pay untouched. (See how your senators voted.)

The bill now gets lateraled to the House, where its future is uncertain. Its shot clock to become a law runs out on Jan. 3.

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Verse to consider whether you spend your days in the Senate chambers, on sports fields, in conference rooms, or in the minivan… “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.”
Philippians 4:8 (CSB) (read full passage)

Lindsay Clancy’s attorney is now arguing there isn’t enough evidence to prove she killed her three children. In court yesterday, the defense asked the judge for an acquittal, saying the “entire case is based on speculation.” Prosecutors called the argument “laughable” but haven’t decided whether to retry her. Attorneys will discuss potential retrial dates when the court reconvenes Nov. 2. (Catch up on the case here.)


Five British men arrested on suspicion of terrorism were released under “stringent” bail conditions Monday. The 20-somethings were suspected of plotting explosions at a U.K. airbase that American forces have used for attacks on Iran, but bomb evidence is reportedly scant. U.S. Secretary of State Rubio says the weekend’s incident “clearly involves… a foreign actor”; Iran has denied any involvement.


SpaceX’s Starship reached to infinity and beyond Earth’s orbit for the first time Monday in its 14th test flight. Flight controllers announced “Starship is orbital” despite one of its 33 engines failing during ascent, though the ten-hour mission was later cut to three out of caution. While encircling Earth, the uncrewed rocket deployed 26 Starlink satellites into its broadband constellation. See Starship’s safe-but-fiery Pacific splashdown.


An NYT games engineer was fatally shot in a California park Saturday. Police arrested the victim’s 77-year-old in-laws on suspicion of murder after the elderly couple was identified by witnesses. The 40-year-old department director was reportedly awaiting trial for child abuse charges (to which he pleaded not guilty) and fighting for custody of his three children. Motives haven’t been released.


It seams like October. MLB threw its first postseason pitches in yesterday’s Wild Card round, including a matchup between baseball’s biggest rivals: the Yankees and Red Sox. Top-seeded teams with first-round byes include the Dodgers (looking to become the first back-to-back-to-back champs since the 2000 Yankees) and Milwaukee (hoping to brew up its first title after a franchise-record 103-win season). See the bracket here.

We were today years old when we learned… these marine animal misconceptions.

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