270 Palm Sunday: The Shifting Frontline
“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” ~ Psalm 118
On the Radar
States Double Down
While the White House continues to affirm the reality that humans are created male and female, the battle over transgender ideology has intensified stateside. President Trump has announced cuts to school funding in Maine after the state refused to comply with executive orders mandating single-sex sports competitions. (Maine had already lost "non-essential" federal funding for housing a housing a male inmate in a women’s prison.) The University of Pennsylvania also saw its funding suspended after allowing trans-identified men to compete in women’s swimming events.
Women’s sports remain the front line in the pushback against transgender ideology. Last week, college fencer Stephanie Turner made headlines for refused to compete against a male opponent. Across the Atlantic, the final of a women’s professional pool championship was contested between two men.
But the clash isn’t limited to athletics. Some states are responding to Trump’s executive orders by doubling down. In Colorado, the House of Representatives passed a radical bill, introduced late the night before. State Rep. Jarvis Caldwell voiced frustration on social media, saying lawmakers had been given little time to read the large bill and no opportunity for meaningful debate. The bill mandates the use of “preferred pronouns,” even on official documents, raising concerns about the integrity of public records. It also strips health providers of the right to opt out of performing transgender-related procedures.
Observers warn the bill may also violate the Constitution’s full faith and credit clause, as it cements Colorado’s refusal to cooperate with out-of-state authorities in cases where children are brought to the state to undergo medical gender transitions. Podcaster Joshua Slocum offered a blunt summary of the legislation: “There’s no way to make it make sense because it’s evil.”
A thought: In moments like these, Christians must stand firm in what is true. God is not silent on these matters. “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female?” (Matthew 19:4). This is not cruelty—it is clarity, and clarity is kindness. When the culture spins in rebellion, remember Paul's charge to the church in Ephesus: “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). That does not mean we shout louder—it means we speak faithfully, love truthfully, and live as light in a darkening world.
Bull in China’s shop?
President Trump’s tariffs continue to dominate headlines. This week, the White House announced a 90-day pause on the broader tariff plan, reverting to a 10% base rate across the board—except for imports from China, which now face tariffs exceeding 100%. In response, China slapped a 125% tariff on American goods and signaled it is ready to escalate, though it exports far more to the U.S. than it imports. The stated goals of the tariffs have ranged from raising revenue and creating jobs to rebalancing global trade, but officials now say that pressuring China was a central aim all along.
Markets rallied on news of the pause, while several world leaders have lined up meetings with the Trump administration to talk trade. The president also exempted certain tech products—including chips, computers and smart phones—from tariffs. No doubt Apple was a little miffed, having rushed to airlift a million iPhones out of its Indian manufacturing hubs ahead of the tariff hike. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has hinted these exemptions may not be permanent.
The Blitz
Crime and Punishment
Courts, Law and Policing
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the Trump administration can proceed with the “termination of 16,000 probationary federal workers across six agencies and departments”, overturning a lower court's order to reinstate them. For now, those workers will remain on paid leave as related cases continue.(ABC News)
Three important religious liberty cases are currently before the Supreme Court of the US. The cases will be a test of what “religious activities” qualify for tax exemptions and religious conscience in parents’ education choices. (The Federalist)
Idaho has passed a law making child rape eligible for the death penalty—the first law of its kind since a 2008 Supreme Court ruling struck down a similar statute. (The Blaze)
Tribes and Tongues
Immigration and Race
In a 5–4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of President Trump, allowing him to continue deporting illegal immigrants under the 1789 Alien Enemies Act. The Court also ruled that deportees must be notified and given time to challenge removal, but lawsuits must be filed where the person is detained—aiming to curb “judge shopping.” (The Blaze, Reuters) | The Supreme Court also told the administration that it must “facilitate” the return of Salvadorian man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who has lived in the US illegally for several years but was deported to El Salvador two weeks ago. (NBC) *correction: The ruling says that the Trump administration must facilitate the removal of Abrego Garcia from El Salvador but not necessarily return him to the US | An immigration judge in Louisiana has given activist Mahmoud Khalil until April 23 to contest his deportation for reportedly violating conditions of his green card. (Just the News) |
Democrats have overwhelmingly voted against a Republican-sponsored bill that would require proof of citizenship in order to enrol for voting. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act passed with a GOP majority. (The Federalist)
A federal judge has sided with the Trump administration's enforcement of existing immigration law, ruling that Homeland Security can require fingerprints and addresses from illegal immigrants—including Canadians who hop across the border for some sunshine. (Just the News)
Health
Medicine and Food
A study from the Cleveland Clinic has found this year’s flu vaccine to be linked to a higher risk of contracting the virus. The researchers tested the Clinic’s employees who are mandated to take the shot unless exempted on medial or religious grounds. Factcheckers maintained that the study didn't measure the “primary benefit” of flu shots which is a lower “risk for severe illness, hospitalization and death.” So we’ll have to wait for that study..(ABC3340, Politifact)
Died from measles, died with measles? Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr says a young girl from a Mennonite community in Texas died from a bacterial infection, not from measles. Mainstream media coverage claimed Daisy Hildebrand’s death was the second death credited to measles this year. (Just The News)
A new paper suggests rethinking the classic “food pyramid” guidelines for diet is needed to combat chronic illness in the United States. “Traditional carb-heavy diet has not only failed to safeguard public health but may be contributing to rising rates of obesity and Type 2 diabetes.” (Epoch Times)
Metropolis
Politics and the State
President Trump is demanding that Mexico catch up on its water treaty obligations, saying it owes Texas farmers millions of gallons of water from the Rio Grande. A treaty in 1944 established an agreement to share water from the Rio and the Colorado River, but with Mexico facing drought conditions, “they're so far behind, it will be very difficult, if not statistically impossible, for them to make up that difference." (Newsweek, NPR) | Trump has issued an executive order removing Obama-era regulations that restricted water flow in household showerheads. (The Blaze)
A debate among House Republicans over remote voting may be resolved through a “vote pairing” agreement. New mom Rep. Anna Paulina Luna wants certain exceptions to qualify a lawmaker to voting from home. However, Speaker Mike Johnson is staunchly against the idea, citing absentee voting during covid which he says was “quickly abused”. The new proposal would see that a vote from “one member who is physically present in the House cancels out the vote of someone who is absent”. (AP)
The Elements
The Natural World
Biotech company Colossal Biosciences generated a lot of media coverage last week amid claims it has brought Dire wolves back from extinction, exhibiting three snowy white pups born some months ago. Researchers mixed genetic information extracted from some fossilized bones with edited gray wolf genes but skeptics say it’s a stretch to say the Dire wolf has returned. (Wired, Not the Bee)
A pair of critically endangered Galápagos tortoises, both nearly 100 year-old have brought four hatchlings into the world. (Smithsonian)
Treasure
Money, Markets and Jobs
A proposed framework for a federal budget has narrowly passed the US House, laying the groundwork for the bigger fight: actually passing a budget. Democrats say Republicans will not be able to achieve their desired spending cuts without substantial cuts to critical programs. (The Guardian)
“New analysis reveals private equity firms own at least 10% of all U.S. apartments.” (Private Equity Stakeholder Project)
Life
Birth, Death and Marriage
A helicopter carrying a Siemens executive and his family has crashed into the Hudson River, after eyewitnesses saw the rotor become detached from the aircraft midair. All six people on board died. (Not the Bee) | A small plane has crashed at a Florida airport claiming three lives. (ABC News)
Reality Bytes
Digital Technology
The rise of “reasoning” AI models is making benchmarking difficult on account of the fact that results are not replicable. (TechCrunch)
It’s not just you: The average person has over 1,000 unread emails. (All About Cookies)
Heritage
Arts, History and Sport
The first known letter written by King James VI of Scotland will be placed on display in Scotland. The commissioner of the King James Bible wrote a thank you letter when he was 7 years old. (BBC)
Last week in history:
1930 The first Looney Toons is released. (Old Classic Cartoons via YouTube)
1981 NASA launches the first space shuttle, which could land on a runway. (Britannica)
The Bride And The Counterfeits
Religion and the Church
Pew’s survey of religious affiliation, state by state. (Pew)
Knowledge
Science and Data
The world’s smallest pacemaker can be inserted via syringe, even for newborn babies with heart defects. It dissolves when it is no longer needed. (Northwestern Now)
The amount of space junk is increasing every year, but we should expect a lot more. More countries are racing to launch secure, satellite-based communication networks like Starlink, as a key part of national defense. (Northeastern, Rest of the World)
War and Rumors of War
Conflict and Weaponry
Ukraine says it has captured two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia. Beijing says it is verifying the claims. (BBC) | Ukraine has confirmed that it has troops operating in Russia’s Belgorod region. (BBC)
Dual Russian-American citizen, Ksenia Karelina has been returned to the US after 15 months in a Russian labor camp. Karelina was visiting a relative in Russia when she was charged with treason when it was discovered she had donated money to a Ukrainian charity. (AP)
President Trump announced that the US would begin direct talks with Iran about its nuclear program. Tehran confirmed it will talk but indirectly and facilitated by Oman. (AP)
The US’ largest shipbuilder is joining forces with South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries to build destroyers for the US Navy. (CNN)
Stories From Far Away
World News
Haiti’s transitional government is seeking the help of a paramilitary group it once fought against to assist security forces struggling to restore order. (MSN)
Athletes from China, Romania and Russia have arrived in Pyongyang for North Korea’s first marathon in 6 years. (CNN)
The roof of a popular club in the Dominican Republic has collapsed, killing over 200 people. (AP)
Universal will open a theme park in the UK. (BBC)
Quickhits For The Eyebuds
💎 Minerals and gems rated from hard to soft
🫶🏻 In praise of being amateur
✏️ Pencil sharpener from the 1890s
🇺🇸 Some of the United States’ most beautiful destinations
🖐️ Not every fingerprint is unique
📍 Adventures in a 1965 Pontiac
📽️ Some cinemas are banning unaccompanied kids from seeing the new Minecraft movie after several reports of children throwing popcorn and generally making a mess
Good Word: Starfall 2029
Starfalling: The BBC wrote last week of what it knows about the origin of “near-earth” asteroids, noting that NASA recently upgraded the probability that YR4 will collide with earth. By a little, at least. Don’t lose your mind! Tune in to Starfall2029! Catch Rev Fisk on YouTube or Rumble, or listen here.
Sweetness YouMay Have Missed:
This Week Preached:
Podcast Release:
Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His great humility and patience and be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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