Today, we’re talking about the House passing a bill that could ban TikTok, legal updates for former President Trump and first son Hunter Biden, the EU’s AI regulation, and other top news for Friday, March 15th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over.
QUOTE OF THE DAY “If you own something you cannot give away, then you don't own it, it owns you.” Albert Schweitzer
ESPRESSO SHOTS
U.S. NEWS
Clock is TikToking
The House overwhelmingly (352-65) passed a bill ordering TikTok to separate from its parent company within 6 months or face a U.S. ban.
TikTok is headquartered in Singapore and Los Angeles but is fully owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company. Red and blue lawmakers both fear this makes it subject to Chinese laws compelling organizations to share intelligence with the government, enabling China to influence the American public or seize data from the app’s 170 million American users.
The bill’s path through the Senate is unclear. Critics say the bill may violate the First Amendment and that informed consumers can make their own decisions. President Biden has promised to sign the bill if it reaches his desk.
__
Verse to consider when you’re evaluating your own social media usage… “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
Former President Trump and President Biden have officially clinched enough delegates for their party’s presidential nominations.
Trump’s campaign may include less time in a Georgia courtroom. On Wednesday, the judge presiding over his election interference case threw out 6 of 41 charges due to “lack of detail.” Prosecutors may refile more specific charges, but it’ll further delay the trial already waylaid by allegations of DA Fani Willis’ conflict of interest with her special prosecutor. A ruling on that issue is expected soon.
Hunter Biden’s summer schedule will also include court. The trial over whether he lied about his drug use when buying a gun in 2018, brought by special counsel David Weiss, is scheduled to begin June 3rd.
In other campaign news, independent presidential candidate RFK Jr. is reportedly considering Aaron Rodgers (yes, the MVP quarterback) for VP.
__
ABOVE ALL, LOVE Slow down for a heart check if you feel satisfaction when you see your political opponents facing trouble. When his own opponents took him to trial and sentenced him to death, Jesus had compassion and prayed for them.
“When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’” Luke 23:33-34
What if social media was (gasp!) actually social? What if we could go back to posting funny inside jokes on our friends' walls instead of sharing doom-and-gloomy TikToks?
TUVU is throwing it back to the good ol’ days. Yes, Christian social media does exist – and it’s exactly what you’d picture. TUVU is ad-free, AI-moderated for the whole family, and designed for connection. Because it’s funded by subscribers, not advertisers, your data won’t get sold.
Right now, TPO subscribers get 6 months free. Try it out and take a big breath of relief. Go ahead, we’ll wait.
First, the EU approved the world’s first comprehensive AI law, a step beyond China’s patchwork of AI laws and President Biden’s executive order on AI data. The “AI Act” regulates AI based on risk — the greater the potential harm, the stricter the rules.
It bans technology posing a “risk to fundamental rights” (apps handling biometric data), places strict requirements on “high-risk” AI (systems used in education, healthcare, and elections), and places few requirements on low-risk AI (spam filters).
Second, the U.K. will no longer “routinely” prescribe puberty blockers “for children with gender dysphoria or gender incongruence” after a report concluded there’s "not enough evidence" they’re safe or effective. Individual doctors can apply to prescribe the medication — which pauses the physical changes of puberty — on a case-by-case basis.
__
CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE When discussing controversial issues, remember that both your stance and how you take your stance reflect on Christ. Christians can demonstrate God’s love by showing compassion and understanding, even as we seek to be faithful to God’s word.
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:6
X’s “content partnership” with “The Don Lemon Show” is over before its first webisode. After being interviewed for the premiere, X CEO Elon Musk terminated the contract, saying Lemon could still publish his content on X “without censorship,” but X wouldn’t pay what Lemon “was demanding.” Lemon said Musk didn’t like his questions and doesn’t really “believe in free speech.”
Dollar Tree is doing some pruning. After a big loss in the 4th quarter, the company (which also owns Family Dollar) plans to close over 1,000 locations over the next few years, likely impacting neighborhoods with already limited shopping choices. Dollar Tree, which saw shares fall 14% on the news, cited both inflation and theft as contributing factors.
SpaceX’s Starship was meant to fly… and it finally succeeded. After exploding in its two previous test flights, Starship — the largest rocket ever built — successfully made it into space and even broadcast footage of its own reentry (see here) before breaking apart. The Starship program is being developed with hopes of taking NASA astronauts to the moon and beyond.
Turns out the U.S. maternal death rate hasn’t doubled since 2002… we’re just bad at counting. A new study found CDC classification errors meant that when a “pregnant” checkbox was added to death certificates in 2003, pregnant women who died from cancer or a car crash (for example) were misclassified as maternal deaths. The maternal death rate has actually remained stable.
Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu is losing Democratic support in Washington. First, President Biden said Netanyahu was “hurting Israel.” Then, yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) upped the ante, calling for Israel to hold new elections. Schumer said Netanyahu has “become too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza,” and is now an obstacle to peace in the region.
With countless Bible resources available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Get all your questions answered in one trustworthy, convenient app that’s integrated with your Tyndale Bible.
The Filament Bible Collection is your gateway to a deeper, more enriching Bible-study experience. Seamlessly connect every page of your Bible to a treasure trove of resources on the app, including:
Want wholesome content for your family but aren’t sure where to start?
Meet Sherwood, where you can trade mindless screen time, high stimulation, agendas, and ads for a library of 4,000+ books, audio, and shows for families who want to raise thoughtful, well-rounded kids.
Sherwood’s library is brimming with classic content that teaches time-tested values — titles like Winnie the Pooh, The Jungle Book, and The Secret Garden. There’s something for everyone, from read-along picture books for toddlers to classic lit for young adults to crowd-pleasing movies for your next family movie night.
.png?upscale=true&width=1200&upscale=true&name=Rewards%20(2).png)
