Read Time: 2 min 45 sec

Picture this… you’re halfway through signing Christmas cards, and you think, “Ugh, I wish there was a lil’ robot that could sign my name for me.” It’s a nice thought, but you’re about 60 years late on an original idea. 

The autopen is a mechanical device that reproduces a person’s signature exactly (see one in action).

Why are they used?
Politicians, celebrities, and execs are often expected to sign a lot of things: official documents, letters of support, thank you notes, books, albums, memorabilia, etc. 

Autopens are used to save time (and hand cramps) while still giving the appearance of a personal touch. And most famously, they’re used by Presidents of the United States.

Like who?
Thomas Jefferson used a “polygraph” machine (see it) in the 1800s to write two things at once, but Harry Truman is believed to be the first president to use a modern autopen. Every president since has used it for routine signatures.

What about official documents?
In 2005, George W. Bush asked the DOJ if he could use an autopen to sign a bill into law. Its formal legal opinion was yes—it’s a president's decision that is legally required, not the act of holding a pen—but Bush never did.

An autopen was first used to sign a bill in 2011 at the direction of Barack Obama, who was in France when a time-sensitive bill hit his desk in Washington. He signed two more bills via autopen, and Joe Biden used it to sign one. 

The practice has been criticized all four times, but never challenged in court.

What’s the controversy with Biden’s autopen?
Former President Biden acknowledged using an autopen to sign pardons and executive orders, but there’s no public documentation of what was signed that way, leading to accusations that staffers illegally used the autopen without Biden’s knowledge or authorization.

Don’t forget to check out this week’s TPO Explains episode, where we dive into the Autopen’s nuance and history that couldn’t fit in this article’s word count.

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CHOOSE HUMILITY 
Hot topics frequently make people think, speak, and act poorly… including us. We can respect others and represent God better if we are quick to listen and slow to speak.

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.”
James 1:19-20 (CSB) (read full passage)

Scientists from Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Berkeley, and Stanford walked into a lab… and instead of making a bad joke, they improved gut health forever. 

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It’s a total gut game-changer, strengthening your gut lining, boosting digestion and metabolism, and naturally increasing GLP-1 production.* In other words, it helps your body do what God designed it to do.

Get in on the gut glow-up. As a TPO reader, you get 1 month FREE on your first 3-month membership order! (Bonus: you can use HSA/FSA funds!)

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Working out this week’s Wordle!

An extra Whipped Cream on Top: Speaking of signing things… have you used any of these antique pencil sharpeners?

Clean, simple skincare. Created by TPO Reader Mallory W., EVESKIN is a return to simplicity, providing safe and effective skin and body care that reminds you to slow down and appreciate your natural, God-given beauty. Experience skincare straight from creation.*

*This is a free promo for a TPO-reader-owned small biz. Have your own small business you want us to know about? Fill out this form!

Top News Resource: The TSA’s new list of what’ll fly as a valid travel ID.

Top Christian Perspective: A prayer for hurting people from our story on the Hong Kong apartment fires. Download wallpapers of the prayer here.

Top Whipped Cream: CSI Playroom Edition

How I’m Staying on Track This Holiday Season
With AG1*

The holidays are my weakness (specifically, the sugar cookies that magically appear everywhere I go). And unfortunately, my sweet tooth can really throw my routine for a loop.

But even during the busiest, sugariest season, AG1—a multivitamin, probiotics, greens, and superfood powder—helps me get everything my body needs in one simple scoop. It’s a healthy habit I actually look forward to… and the yummy tropical flavor makes consistency easy peasy.

Right now, TPO readers get a welcome kit free with a monthly subscription! That’s a “Morning Person” hat, a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2, an AG1 flavor sampler, and their new sleep supplement AGZ. Cheers!

Emily Hansen | Partnerships Manager

*From our partners

Before you go… we’re hiring again! We’re looking for a detail-oriented, task-lovin’ Administrative Assistant to add to the team.

Sound like your cup of tea joe? Check out the job description here for next steps.