The Culture

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson criticized the Supreme Court’s handling of emergency applications in a Thursday law-school speech. She argued that expedited relief can bypass ordinary review and leave serious consequences insufficiently explained. Her remarks address the Court’s procedures rather than announce a new ruling.

The Cook Political Report shifted fifteen House races toward Democrats and assessed the party as favored to win the chamber, the Washington Examiner reports. Its analysis points to competitive-district polling, economic conditions and campaign spending ahead of November. These ratings are forecasts, and control of the House will be decided by voters.

Pope Leo XIV warned about the danger of losing human dignity amid increasingly powerful machines as he began a four-day visit to France. Speaking to church and state officials after meeting President Emmanuel Macron, he placed artificial intelligence within a wider discussion of humanity’s future. His appeal adds a religious perspective to the debate over technology and human control.

Greek antiquities spanning roughly 5,000 years have been returned to Greece, Smithsonian Magazine reports. Investigators from the Manhattan district attorney’s office seized the objects at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Their return is part of continuing efforts to recover cultural property removed through illicit trade.

About half of Americans say they experience or witness a miracle at least several times a year, the Christian Post reports. The survey also explores differing views about organized religion and the afterlife. Its findings describe respondents’ beliefs and experiences rather than independently verifying supernatural events.

Southern Baptist Convention President Willy Rice has proposed changing the Baptist Faith & Message on marriage and gender. He says the proposal responds to cultural confusion, according to the Christian Post. The reported action is a proposal rather than an adopted amendment.

A priest was killed and four people were injured in a knife attack at an abbey in Jarosław, Poland. Police say they arrested a male suspect from Ukraine. The report does not establish a motive for the attack.

A federal district judge ruled that Oklahoma officials cannot require a proposed Jewish charter school to be non-religious, the Christian Post reports. The decision addresses the religious condition imposed on the proposal. It adds to the legal debate over religious participation in publicly funded charter education.

Fifty pro-life leaders urged FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton to restore earlier restrictions on mifepristone while the agency completes its review. Their statement seeks changes including a return to in-person dispensing requirements. At her confirmation hearing, Overton said the drug had met FDA safety and efficacy standards and declined to prejudge the review.

Italy’s government approved measures banning burqas and niqabs in schools and limiting the concentration of pupils with insufficient Italian-language proficiency. The measures leave hijabs uncovered by the ban and provide for exemptions and extra language teaching where redistribution is impractical. Supporters call the decree an integration measure, while opposition parties dispute its practicality and motives.

Jacob Bridgeman, Sam Burns, Russell Henley and Cameron Young discussed their Christian faith ahead of the Presidents Cup. The players described its role in their friendships and approach to competition. Their remarks offer a personal view of life beyond tournament results, according to Fox News.

World Relief and Open Doors U.S. warn that persecuted Christians have fewer routes to safety in the United States, International Christian Concern reports. The account cites an effectively suspended refugee resettlement program and changes to the initial review of some asylum claims. The groups describe the implications for believers seeking protection.

International Christian Concern reports increasing pressure on Christian educational institutions in West Bengal, India. The watchdog describes surprise official visits and online accusations of unlawful conversions. Its account raises concerns about the ability of those institutions to operate freely.

Christianity Today examines how Christian groups worked together against the assisted dying proposal rejected by MPs on September 11. The vote was 286 against and 270 in favor. The new report follows the earlier parliamentary decision and describes evangelical organizing around the legislation.

Great American Media is seeking nominations for small-town churches to recognize during the Christmas season. The campaign focuses on congregations serving their communities. The Christian Post reports that nominations are opening months ahead of the holiday.

Liberty University has received a Boeing grant for a public pavilion at its planned DC-8 Overlook project. The site will feature the Samaritan’s Purse aircraft donated to the university last December. The grant amount was not disclosed, according to the Christian Post.

A multisite North Carolina church baptized 458 people in a single day, according to the Christian Post. The congregation described the total as a record in its 137-year history. Church leaders celebrated the occasion as a significant moment for their community.

Pastor Nehad Hasan told Christianity Today that Syrian authorities detained him in July over religious speech and online posts before dropping the charges and releasing him in August. The Lebanese-based Kurdish pastor says threatening messages continued after his release. His account raises questions about religious freedom and the gap between official assurances and conduct on the ground.

International Christian Concern reports that Myanmar soldiers shot and killed the Rev. Dal Thawn Tuang in Chin state on September 14. The assistant pastor of Lamzang Baptist Church was returning from religious duties in a neighboring village. The Christian Post reports that a religious-freedom group is urging the U.S. government to respond.

The Christian Post is carrying coverage of the AWAKE Houston gathering with Michael Youssef and Chris Tomlin. The announced lineup also includes O. S. Hawkins and evangelist Ahmed Joktan of Mecca to Christ Ministries International. The program brings together Christian teaching and worship.

Ed Sheeran addressed the Gaza war and acknowledged mistakes before his Philadelphia concert Saturday. The remarks followed the removal of Macklemore from his tour over the rapper’s pro-Palestinian comments. Protesters gathered outside the venue as the dispute continued to affect the tour.

Two United Nations experts are seeking answers about the seizure of St. Peter’s Evangelical Church in Tehran and the eviction of around 20 Christian families. Their July 10 communication has now become public under UN disclosure procedures, according to the Christian Post. The experts said Iran had not answered their questions and raised concerns about a broader pattern of restrictions on Christian worship.

Thousands gathered outside the Kennedy Center on Friday to oppose President Trump’s plans for the arts venue. Some protesters joined hands around the building amid fears it could be torn down. A federal judge has required 30 days’ notice before major physical changes, including demolition, according to the Associated Press.

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway sent cease-and-desist letters to six prediction market companies. She argues that their sports event contracts constitute unlicensed sports wagering under state law. The action adds Missouri to the dispute over state and federal authority to regulate prediction markets.

A procession of 40 life-size bison puppets is scheduled to move through New York this weekend. Three puppeteers will operate each animal as the herd travels through Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. The public performance honors Indigenous history and resilience.

A study of evangelical Christians in the United Kingdom reports growth led by young men, according to the Christian Post. Its findings examine the size, identity and composition of the evangelical community. The report describes a pattern that differs from the country’s broader religious decline.

Algerian special forces raided a worship service at a humanitarian shelter on September 4, according to the Christian Post. All 12 Christians present were arrested on suspicion of holding an unauthorized non-Muslim service, and police seized Bibles. The case raises concerns about the ability of Christians to gather for worship in Algeria.

Confirmation that Meryl Streep will voice Aslan in Netflix’s adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew has drawn criticism from some Christians. Critics cited by the Christian Post argue that the casting departs from the character’s place in C. S. Lewis’s Christian allegory. The reaction highlights the scrutiny surrounding the adaptation of the Narnia books.

International Christian Concern reports that police detained 11 Early Rain Covenant Church elders during a September 10 meeting in a teahouse. Officers interrupted their discussion and took them to a police station for questioning. Pastor Ding Shuqi separately described pressure and mistreatment facing the Chengdu congregation, drawing renewed attention to religious freedom in China.

A year after Charlie Kirk's assassination, the organization he founded is contending with internal disputes and conspiracy theories about his death. Evangelical leaders are separately debating what the killing revealed about political engagement in the church. Some comedians have begun treating the event as material, drawing sharp criticism.

Hispanic Pentecostal faith leaders gathered near the Capitol on Tuesday to ask the administration for mercy as Temporary Protected Status for Salvadorans expires. Many of those affected have lived in the United States for decades. The administration has not signaled a change.

The creators of South Park have renamed the series South America, a move widely read as satire of President Trump's habit of renaming places after America. The president has previously proposed renaming a lake, a gulf and a state. Comedy Central has not commented on how long the change will last.

A report says ABC does not plan to extend Jimmy Kimmel's contract beyond 2027, which would end a twenty-four-year run in late night. The network has disputed the characterization. Kimmel has not commented publicly on his plans.

Newly released international testing research finds families in many high-income countries report less involvement in their children's schooling even as scores decline. Researchers say the two trends appear connected but do not establish causation. School systems are being urged to rebuild parent engagement.

Jeriah Mast, a former missionary with an Ohio-based ministry, pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges of sexually abusing two boys in Haiti. He reached an agreement with prosecutors ahead of sentencing. The ministry has faced questions about how long the conduct went unreported.

LIV Golf filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New Jersey with more than $500 million in debt. The league says it intends to reorganize into a smaller operation without Saudi backing. Players under contract face uncertainty about the 2027 season.

A new ad from Ken Paxton's Senate campaign accuses opponent James Talarico of weaponizing Christian faith for political purposes, citing Talarico's own remarks about God and Jesus. Talarico, a seminary student, has defended his statements. The exchange has made religion a central theme of the Texas race.

Virginia Theological Seminary has received a sculpture commemorating Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde's public appeal to President Trump last year. Supporters describe the piece as a marker of pastoral courage. Critics have called the honor politically charged.

Close to 600 churches across the United Kingdom are preparing for Franklin Graham's God Loves You Tour event in Manchester. Organizers expect thousands at the Co-op Live arena. Previous stops have drawn both large crowds and local protests.

The Texas State Board of Education approved a revised social studies curriculum that highlights the role of radical Islam in the September 11 attacks and discusses Muhammad. Supporters call it historically necessary; critics warn it risks broad-brush treatment of Muslims. The standards take effect in coming school years.

A large sinkhole swallowed part of the driveway at Nicolas Cage's $10.5 million Malibu property after heavy rain and high surf from a tropical storm. Engineers are assessing whether the house itself is at risk. Neighbors have reported related slope damage.

Three jurors from the Lindsay Clancy murder trial spoke publicly about deliberations that ended without a verdict, describing a lone holdout. Their accounts offer the first detailed look at how the panel divided. Prosecutors have not said whether they will retry the case.

A new survey finds most Americans are satisfied with how their churches promote spiritual health and teach Scripture, with women reporting higher satisfaction than men. Confidence in churches and pastors varies significantly by age and attendance. Researchers say the gap has widened since earlier waves of the poll.

Lonnie G. Bunch III announced he will retire at the end of the year after 38 years at the Smithsonian, including seven as its secretary. His tenure ends after a contentious period in which the White House labeled Smithsonian leadership radical and pressed for changes to how American history is presented. Bunch founded the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Apologist Wes Huff defended the historical reliability of the Bible at the Sing! Conference, walking through centuries of manuscript evidence and transmission. He argued the preservation record gives Christians confidence in the text they read today. The conference drew worship leaders and pastors from across the country.

The San Diego Natural History Museum lets residents borrow from a collection of about 1,400 specimens, from bobcats and beetles to snakes preserved in jars. Borrowers include teachers, artists and curious neighbors. Staff say the program is one of a kind in the United States.

The country adopted its name 250 years ago, on September 9, 1776, after considering alternatives including the United Colonies, Columbia and the United States of Alleghania. One congressman later proposed the United States of the Earth. Americans have argued over the choice ever since.

An investigation has been opened after female staff at the Eiffel Tower were reportedly replaced by male colleagues to accommodate a visiting religious delegation. Outraged workers walked off the job on Monday, closing the Paris landmark for the day. Operators of the monument have not fully explained who authorized the substitution.

Thieves made off with Renoir paintings valued in the millions from a museum on the French Riviera. Investigators are reviewing how the group entered and left the building. No arrests have been announced.

A petition urging that New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani be excluded from this year's September 11 memorial service has passed 100,000 signatures, echoing calls from former mayor Rudy Giuliani and former governor George Pataki. Giuliani made the demand during remarks attacking Islam. Mamdani has confirmed he will attend the ceremony and declined to respond to Giuliani directly.