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In the news today: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth prays during a Christian ceremony that “every round find its mark” against America’s enemies “who deserve no mercy”; political warning signs grow as many Republicans worry about a rough midterm election; and Big Tech companies suffer back-to-back court losses. Also, why the fish you see in the grocery story might start looking more like chicken nuggets. |
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listens as President Donald Trump speaks during the swearing in for Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) |
At Pentagon Christian service, Hegseth prays for violence ‘against those who deserve no mercy’ |
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, hosting his first monthly Christian worship service at the Pentagon since the Iran war began, prayed Wednesday to have “every round find its mark.” Read more. |
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He read a prayer he said was first given by a military chaplain to the troops who captured then-President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela. “Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation,” Hegseth prayed during the livestreamed service. Hegseth frequently invokes his evangelical faith as head of the armed forces, depicting a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes with military might. “I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed,” he read from the Psalms on Wednesday.
During the expanding Iran war and global conflicts, Hegseth’s Christian rhetoric has drawn renewed scrutiny, including his past defense of the Crusades, the brutal medieval wars that pitted Christians against Muslims. A lawsuit was filed Monday over the services by Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The suit seeks to enforce a public records request from December, asking the Pentagon for internal communications about the worship services, their cost, guests and any complaints received from employees.
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Trump promises ‘bigger majorities’ for GOP even as midterm warning signs flash for his party |
President Donald Trump predicted Wednesday that his party will have larger congressional majorities after November’s midterm elections, even as political warning signs that have privately worried some Republicans for months are starting to flash red. Read more. |
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Polling shows most Americans believe the U.S. military action against Iran has gone too far and voters are more and more worried about Trump’s failure to address affordability issues. That, coupled with a weakening labor market and worries about renewed inflation, means Republicans could face a string of issues as they try to maintain control of both the House and Senate. The latest sign of trouble came this week from Trump’s own backyard as Democrat Emily Gregory won a Florida special election to flip a state legislative district that encompasses his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach.
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Big Tech’s invincibility shows cracks as juries turn against social media |
For years, parents, teenagers, pediatricians, educators and whistleblowers have pushed the idea that social media is detrimental to young people’s mental health and can lead to addiction, eating disorders, sexual exploitation and suicide. For the first time, juries in two states took their side. Read more. |
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In Los Angeles on Wednesday, a jury found both Meta and YouTube liable for harm to children using their services. In New Mexico, a jury determined that Meta knowingly harmed children’s mental health and concealed what it knew about child sexual exploitation on its platforms. Tech watchdog groups, families and children’s advocates cheered the jury decisions.
“The era of Big Tech invincibility is over,” said Sacha Haworth, executive director of The Tech Oversight Project. “After years of gaslighting from companies like Google and Meta, new evidence and testimony have pulled back the curtain and validated the harms young people and parents have been telling the world about for years.”
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The verdicts show the public’s growing willingness to hold the companies responsible for harms and demand meaningful changes in how they operate. What’s not apparent, at least not yet, is whether the companies will take heed. Both Meta and Google said they disagree with the verdicts and are exploring legal options, including appeals.
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