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WEEKLY NEWS SUMMARY - JANUARY 15, 2025
In this week's Intersect, read about:
LA Wildfire Death Toll Rises To 24 — Eaton Blaze Now Fifth-Deadliest in California’s History
“The death toll from the still-raging Los Angeles wildfires has risen to 24 people with at least 16 still missing, according to a tragic update from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner Sunday evening. The majority of the victims — 16 — were killed in the Eaton Fire, while eight were killed by the Palisades Fire — the two largest of the fires devouring the county. With the new death toll, the Eaton Fire is now the fifth-deadliest wildfire in California’s history.” Read more at New York Post.
THINK.
- There are three different fires making their way along California’s coast right now—the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, and Hurst Fire. As of this writing, the Palisades fire is the largest and least contained, having burnt more than 23,000 acres (about the area of Manhattan). The Eaton and Hurst fires have burnt more than 14,000 and 799 acres respectively.
- It is still unclear what may have started each fire, but preliminary reports suggest that the Palisades fire could have sprung up due to a “dormant blaze” from New Years’ Eve fireworks. Additionally, a lawsuit was brought against the Southern California Edison Company—a power company in the LA area—on Monday, arguing that sparks from the company’s power lines ignited the Eaton fire.
- Why have the fires been so devastating? Is it climate change? Is it the lack of controlled burns to maintain the highly flammable brush in the hills? Perhaps it is the millions of dollars the city of Los Angeles cut from the fire department’s budget to fund divisive diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Or could it be misplaced priorities within the Los Angeles Fire Department itself? One thing is certain: in the weeks and months ahead, many will analyze the causes and responses. For now, our focus must be on praying for the fires to cease and for all those affected and displaced.
PRAY.
Lord, first, we grieve over the lives lost and pray that You would be near to the families grappling with those losses. We also pray for the brave men and women who are fighting these fires and rescuing those who are stranded. Lastly, we pray that the fires would abate, and the winds would cease. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
ACT.
Due to these horrific fires, thousands of people have lost their homes, their belongings, and their livelihoods. While we pray for them as they grapple with their loss and begin rebuilding their lives, we can also come alongside of them in a tangible way by donating supplies. For a list of organizations currently operating inside California and for tips on how to avoid scams, visit this link.
Mark Zuckerberg Details Biden Admin Censorship on Joe Rogan Podcast
"Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has criticized the Biden administration’s approach to social media content moderation. He described the pressure his company faced from the White House during the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Zuckerberg detailed instances where government officials demanded the removal of certain posts.” Read more at Straight Arrow News.
THINK.
- This all began in August of last year, with a letter that Mark Zuckerberg sent to the House Judiciary Committee stating, “In 2021, senior officials from the Biden Administration, including the White House, repeatedly pressured our teams for months to censor certain COVID-19 content, including humor and satire, and expressed a lot of frustration with our teams when we didn’t agree.”
- A few weeks ago, Meta announced that it would be cutting its “fact-checking” program and start allowing consumers to add notes to misleading posts—following Elon Musk’s X model. While the termination of these programs, which have led to an inordinate amount of one-sided censorship, is something to celebrate, one cannot deny that the timing is interesting. Is Zuckerberg genuinely repentant of Meta’s actions or is he simply trying to garner favor with President-elect Trump?
- The First Amendment of the United States’ Constitution is the most important amendment. Not only does it recognize our freedom to worship, but it also recognizes and protects our freedom to speak our minds and express dissent in the face of wrongdoing or evil. Any effort to overlook this fundamental and valuable right should be approached with careful consideration, ensuring accountability for those involved.
PRAY.
Lord, thank You for the freedom of speech that we have here in America. May we never take it for granted, and may we never cease to protect it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
ACT.
With all the misinformation and censorship that does exist on social media platforms and in the mainstream media, it can be difficult to discern what is true and what is false. That is why My Faith Votes’ authored the article “11 Tips for Discerning the News”. This article helps Christians avoid manipulation and approach news consumption with a biblical lens.
Trump’s Cabinet Picks Are Set for Senate Hearings. Here’s the Schedule
“After the initial crush of personnel announcements for President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration, now the nominations process officially begins. Senate hearings are scheduled this week for several of Trump’s picks for the Cabinet. Many nominees have met with senators individually. Now, they will go before the committees overseeing the agencies that Trump wants them to run.” Read more at Associate Press.
THINK.
- On Tuesday, Pete Hegseth—President-elect Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense—sat for his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. At times, it was contentious as Hegseth was passionately questioned about his comments on the standards for women in combat and DEI initiatives on multiple occasions.
- Today, the following nominees will sit for their confirmation hearings: Kristi Noem for Department of Homeland Security, Pam Bondi for Department of Justice, Sean Duffy for Department of Transportation, John Ratcliffe for CIA, Marco Rubio for Department of State, Chris Wright for Department of Energy, and Russel Vought for Office of Management and Budget. Several others will sit for their hearings tomorrow.
- After their confirmation hearings, each Senate committee holds a vote, during which committee members can vote for or against each nominee. If the nominee receives more “Yes” votes than “No” votes, their nomination advances to the Senate floor. There, all 100 Senators have the opportunity to vote. Once the nominee secures a majority of votes, they are confirmed and can officially assume their role.
PRAY.
Lord, we pray over all the confirmation hearings happening this week and the votes to come. Please give the participating Senators wisdom and discernment as they exercise their oversight responsibility. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
ACT.
We are less than a week away from President Trump’s inauguration and things are picking up speed. As his nominees sit for their Senate hearings and prepare to assume their new roles, take a few moments, and pray for them all by name. You can find a full list of the nominees here.
Ohio Governor Signs Bill That ‘Puts Parents Back in Charge’ of Children’s Education
“Liberal activist teachers in a pivotal state will no longer be able to socially transition children, present explicit sexual materials or controversial transgender concepts to minors, or deny students the right to attend church services or receive religious instruction.” Read more at The Washington Stand.
THINK.
- This bill accomplishes three things: it prohibits educators and school administrators from hiding students struggles with gender identity from their parents, it ensures all “sex education” information is age-appropriate and not unnecessarily explicit, and it protects students’ right to religious instruction.
- Many politicians today believe secular government is to be the ultimate authority over family life, leading to gross violations of both parental rights and the wellbeing of children, especially through the wholesale indoctrination of radical gender ideology and the dangerous medical practices it encourages. Ohio’s Parent’s Bill of Rights is a great first step to ensure parents are not required to cede their role to bureaucrats, schools, and administrators.
- Scripture clearly gives parents the primary responsibility to nurture, guide, and protect their children according to God’s will (Proverbs 22:6). To carry out this solemn responsibility, the authority of parents to educate and raise their children is sacred prior to any political system and must be protected in law and across society.
PRAY.
Thank you, Lord, for the elected officials who are standing up for parent’s rights. We pray that You will continue to place people in leadership who believe in protecting our children. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
ACT.
Are you concerned that divisive ideologies and inappropriate content are flowing freely through the schools in your district? My Faith Votes’ LGBTQ School Assessment will help you check for symptoms, diagnose the problem, and protect our kids. Download the assessment today to get started.
My Faith Votes— is a ministry that motivates, equips, and activates Christians in America to vote in every election, transforming our communities and influencing our nation with biblical truth. An estimated 25 million Christians who are registered to vote, fail to vote in presidential elections. My Faith Votes is on a mission to change this statistic by helping Christians act on their faith and vote in every election. When we pray unceasingly for our nation, think biblically about the issues, and vote consistently in every election the impact of Christians taking action from the local to the state and federal level will be unprecedented.
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