Dear Friends,
Hudson Taylor urged, “Would that God would make hell so real to us that we cannot rest; heaven so real that we must have men there, Christ so real that our supreme motive and aim shall be to make the Man of Sorrows the Man of Joy, by the conversion to Him of many.”
1. TRUMP BLOCKADES HORMUZ AFTER IRAN, U.S. TALKS COLLAPSE: After meeting with Iranian leaders on Friday and Saturday in Islamabad, Vice President JD Vance said Tehran rejected the United States’ “final and best offer” and said Iran has yet to agree to Trump’s “central goal” of abandoning its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
On Sunday, President Trump began a blockade on vessels from Iranian ports passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said China is “very happy“ that he is ”permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz.”
Energy analyst Tim Stewart said the blockade directly threatens Iran’s oil revenues. At the same time, experts waned it could take weeks for the world’s energy markets to stabilize, even if the conflict winds down soon.
Libertarian writer Brandon Smith noted, “The blockade… is so effective that it has struck fear in Iran, fear in China, and fear in the liberal order in Europe, which was counting on the war to drag on for months or years.”
On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the U.S. is targeting Iran with “Operation Economic Fury,” including financial warfare and sanctions on countries buying Iranian oil.
On Thursday, President Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a ten-day ceasefire, after leaders from both countries met in Washington, D.C., “for the first time in 34 years.”
President Trump celebrated after Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas said the Strait of Hormuz is “completely open,” as long as the ceasefire continues.
On Friday, Trump said Iran has “agreed to everything,” including the removal of its enriched uranium stockpiles. A second round of talks is expected to take place this weekend.
2. TWO EMBATTLED REPS EXIT CONGRESS: On Monday, Reps. Tony Gonzalez (R-TX) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) both tendered their resignations from Congress, as they faced expulsion votes over sexual misconduct.
Gonzalez previously admitted to an affair with a staffer who later committed suicide. Swalwell was a front-runner for California Governor until he was accused of impropriety and abuse by multiple women.
East Bay journalist Steven Tavares said Swalwell’s immoral behavior was an open secret since 2013. The mainstream media nuked Swalwell’s campaign after it appeared that fractured Democratic support between eight candidates could allow Republicans to win the top two spots in California’s jungle primary, thereby assuring a GOP victory in November.
Former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) claimed that such abuse is systemic to Congress, saying that the U.S. House shut down its page program because 13-15-year-old pages “ were literally ASSAULTED by members of Congress.”
3. ORBAN OUSTED IN HUNGARIAN ELECTION: On Sunday, Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party won 52.1% of the vote and a supermajority of 136 seats, while Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz–KDNP received 39.53% of the vote and 57 seats. The elections registered a record turnout, driven by young voters 18 to 29, only 10% of whom supported Orbán.
Magyar previously served in Orbán’s cabinet until 2024. He successfully harnessed EU meddling, globalist NGO funding, corruption allegations against Fidesz, youth discontent, and economic uncertainty to claim a victory.
The new PM has positioned himself as pro-EU and softer on LGBTQ issues, but he has vowed to continue Orbán’s strict border security measures.
Congratulations poured in from EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, globalist Polish PM Donald Tusk, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Alex Soros. Elon Musk wrote, “[The] Soros Organization has taken over Hungary.”
National security analyst Antonio Graceffo warned that Orbán’s defeat removes Hungary’s lone EU veto to Ukraine support and “ increases the probability of a Russian reaction.”
Orbán called the results “painful for us, but clear” and vowed to “never, never, never give up.” Magyar has proposed an amendment that would ban Orbán from running again.
Orbán was a leading anti-communist voice in the waning days of the Soviet Union. He served as Prime Minister for 16 years, standing firm for his Christian faith, family, values, and national sovereignty.
4. TRUMP FEUDS WITH POPE: On Monday night, President Trump issued a blistering statement calling Pope Leo XIV “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy,” alleging that Leo was only installed as an American counterweight to Trump and criticizing Leo’s recent meeting with Obama strategist David Axelrod. Leo responded, “I am not afraid of the Trump administration.”
Trump also criticized Italy’s refusal to assist with the Iran war after Trump ally Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called his criticism of the Pope “unacceptable.”
Meanwhile, three progressive American Cardinals – Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of San Diego, and Joseph Tobin of Newark – joined CBS’ “60 Minutes,” where they attacked Trump’s deportations and said the Iran conflict is “not a just war.”
Conservative commentator Steve Deace said Trump is “right” about Pope Leo, but warned that the President “is being lured into a fight” that he cannot win.
Commentator Mike Cernovich said the media “op” is manufactured to bring Catholics back to the Democrats, and asked, “Where’s the Pope’s moral authority when it comes to condemning official Democrat policies on abortion?”
In 2024, Catholics supported Trump over Kamala Harris 56% to 41%.
5. DID TRUMP POST AN AI PICTURE OF HIMSELF AS JESUS? Just hours after his attack on Pope Leo, President Trump reposted an AI image depicting himself in white and red robes, with his hand on a patient in a hospital bed, watched by others, including a soldier, a nurse, and a praying woman, with historic American icons in the background and angelic or demonic figures hovering in the sky.
Jon Root wrote, “This is blasphemous… If only there was a qualified leader of the White House Faith Office, and not a heretic, so this wouldn’t happen or at least would be called out.”
Commentator Jon Harris summarized the swift condemnations, posting, “A lot of outrage this morning over Trump’s post as there should be… [Jesus] is the Creator who will judge us all. He is to be taken seriously and revered, not used as the punchline for a joke.”
Harris noted, “In the past two weeks, Trump had both proclaimed the gospel, shared Franklin Graham’s letter containing the gospel, and posted profane remarks beneath the dignity of a president. This takes the cake, but it’s been a pattern for Trump since the beginning.”
Trump responded by taking down the photo and stating, “I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor, and had to do with Red Cross, as a Red Cross worker there, which we support… It’s supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better, and I do make people better, I make people a lot better.”
6. TULSI GABBARD REFERS KEY TRUMP IMPEACHMENT HENCHMEN TO DOJ: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard referred 2019 Trump impeachment whistleblower Eric Ciaramella and ex-DOJ Inspector General Michael Atkinson to the Justice Department for criminal investigation, following the release of key documents.
Gabbard wrote, “Newly-declassified records expose how deep state actors within the Intelligence Community concocted a false narrative that Congress used to usurp the will of the American people and impeach a duly-elected President.”
Ciaramella set the stage for Trump’s first impeachment after he revealed a July 2019 phone call in which Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate the Biden family’s shady business dealings in Ukraine.
Trump’s first impeachment effectively removed the Ukraine issue from the 2020 campaign and allowed the media to dismiss the Hunter Biden laptop as “Russian disinformation.”
Journalist Hans Mahncke lamented, “Those facts are only coming out now, thanks to Tulsi Gabbard, but seven years too late. Not coincidentally, that delay means the statute of limitations for bringing charges has now expired, and no one will ever be held accountable.”
Go deeper here.
7. TRUMP CALLS FOR CLEAN FISA REAUTHORIZATION: During his 2024 Presidential campaign, President Trump wrote, “KILL FISA, IT WAS ILLEGALLY USED AGAINST ME, AND MANY OTHERS. THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN!!!”
This Wednesday, Trump reversed course, calling for a clean FISA Section 702 extension to protect American troops on the battlefield. Trump wrote, “I am willing to risk the giving up of my Rights and Privileges as a Citizen for our Great Military and Country!” While FISA Section 702 allows for warrantless surveillance on foreigners abroad, American citizens can also be swept up in the surveillance.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) postponed a scheduled vote after some conservatives revolted over the lack of privacy amendments. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) said his three proposed amendments were rejected.
On Friday morning, the House temporarily extended FISA until April 30, as negotiations continue.
Ed. Note: Benjamin Franklin warned, “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
8. NASHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL EMBRACES ISLAM: The Nashville Banner revealed that John Overton High School has fully embraced Islamic holidays, provided a food-free zone for Muslim students during Ramadan, and designated reserved spaces and prayer rugs for Muslim prayers.
The school cafeteria decorations proclaimed, “Ramadan Mubarak,” which means “Blessed Ramadan.” By contrast, the school district now refers to Good Friday as “Spring Holiday” on its official calendar.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) reacted, “Meanwhile, Christians have seen every trace of their religion erased from American education.”
Christian talk show host Todd Starnes asked, “I wonder if Overton High School celebrates the Jewish and Christian faiths with as much gusto as they do the Muslim faith? Do they erect a Nativity in the cafeteria during the 12 days of Christmas? Is there a banner proclaiming that Jesus is the reason for the season?… There’s not been a word of condemnation about a public school being turned into a taxpayer-funded mosque.”
9. NEW REPORT REVEALS WIDESPREAD BIBLICAL ILLITERACY: The American Bible Society’s 2026 State of the Bible (SOTB) report found that only 17% of Americans have read the entire Bible, another 17% “most,” 14% “about half,” and 35% “a little.” 42% said they “never” read the Bible. The SOTB noted that Bible-reading figures are probably “inflated.”
The Washington Stand’s Joshua Arnold commented, “There was a time when nearly all Americans had read the Bible. Even professing non-Christians could intelligently discuss Christian teaching and deploy biblical imagery, even if they rejected the Bible’s central message of obedience and faith. Today, many people who fill a pew on Sunday morning know less about Scripture than likely atheist Thomas Paine… Reading only part of the Bible leaves one dangerously vulnerable to false teaching.”
In related news, a Gallup poll found that 42% of young men 18 to 29 say religion is “very important,” up from 28% just several years ago.
Ed. Note: The growing number of Americans who seem hungry for truth presents a massive opportunity for churches and faithful believers to share the gospel and disciple these seekers in God’s Word.
10. VANCE TELLS CONSERVATIVES TO REJECT CYNYCISM AND CHOOSE ACTION: During a Georgia Turning Point event, Vice President JD Vance acknowledged, “I’m sure that I’ve said mostly things that you agree with, and I’m sure that I’ve said some things you may not agree with. And, you may not agree with everything I say about the Iran negotiation.”
The Vice President urged, “When you see a politician…that isn’t doing what you want to do, you have two choices. You can…check out of the process, or you can say, ‘You know what, I’m going to get more involved. I’m going to make my voice heard even more. I’m going to pressure that administration to do exactly what I want them to do because they got my vote, they earned my vote, but they can’t take it for granted.’”
Vance urged voters to continue pushing for the SAVE America Act and said, “I’ve been fighting for the SAVE Act literally since day one of the administration.”
11. INTERNATIONAL STORIES:
- Pope Leo said a silent prayer with the imam at the world’s third-largest mosque in Algiers, Algeria. A Vatican outlet said he expressed “gratitude for being in a place that represents the space proper to God.”
- Tommy Robinson revealed that the Islamic State issued a death sentence against him earlier this year for “disrespecting the prophet.”
- Two German YouTubers face a criminal “blasphemy” investigation for posting a video criticizing Islam and highlighting rising antisemitism.
- According to Pew Research, 60% of Americans view Israel unfavorably, a figure that includes 41% of Republicans and 80% of Democrats.
- British PM Keir Starmer pulled out of a deal to give away the Chagos Islands, which house the U.K.-U.S. military base Diego Garciato, to China after President Trump vocally opposed the proposal.
- The European Commission said its age verification app will soon be available in all member states.
- Former Pfizer executive Dr. Helmut Sterz estimated that 20,000 to 60,000 people died in Germany from the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccines. Sterz suggested that many people would have rejected the shots had they understood the risk.
12. POLITICAL STORIES:
- TPUSA reporter Savanah Hernandez was brutally assaulted by Antifa agitators and shoved to the ground outside an ICE facility in Minneapolis.
- The Cook Political Report moved the North Carolina and Georgia U.S. Senate races from “Toss Up” to “Lean Democrat,” shifted Ohio from “Lean Republican” to “Toss Up,” and moved Nebraska from “Solid Republican” to “Lean Republican.”
- Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) signed a bill to add the state to the National Vote Compact. 18 states have signed on to the compact, which seeks to nullify individual state voters by giving electoral votes to the national popular vote winner.
- Spanberger also signed a new law guaranteeing a “right” to contraception, including abortion kill pills.
- Former Virginia Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax committed suicide after murdering his wife. His gubernatorial aspirations were cut short after two women accused him of sexual assault in 2019.
- Attorney Dr. John Eastman has been officially disbarred by the California Supreme Court for advising Trump on the rigged 2020 election. Trump official Jeff Clark, who has also been targeted by the legal system, called the ruling a “two-tiered system of justice.”
- Billionaire environmentalist and California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer’s new immigration platform calls to imprison ICE agents, bring back deported illegals to the U.S., and nullify federal immigration law.
- Ten House Republicans joined Democrats to extend Temporary Protected Status for 350,000 Haitians for three years.
- Project 2025 architect Paul Dans dropped his primary bid against Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and endorsed conservative businessman Mark Lynch. Dans said he exited the race “because we cannot Make America Great Again until Lady Graham is taken out of office. Mark Lynch has the resources to make that happen.”
13. TRUMP AGENDA:
- President Trump confirmed that his administration has launched an investigation into the mysterious deaths and disappearances of ten U.S. scientists.
- President Trump said he has a short list of possible replacements for Supreme Court justices Clarence Thomas, 77, and Samuel Alito, 76, both of whom could potentially retire ahead of the midterms.
- Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) suggested Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT) as possible replacements.
- California Democratic lawmakers have proposed legislation that would stop independent investigators like Nick Shirley from exposing fraud.
- OMB Chief Russ Vought warned that the Department of Homeland Security is “disintegrating” due to a lack of funding during the DHS shutdown.
- DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) said America is “a nation of immigrants” and suggested that the cost of removing illegals ($18,000 per deportation) is too high.
- But Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) estimated that the “lifetime fiscal drain” of every illegal alien is $68,000. Schmitt said, “Deporting 10 million illegal aliens would save Americans $500 billion. We can’t afford NOT to mass deport.”
14. NOTEWORTHY STORIES:
- A new “Jesus” avatar from Just Like Me will allow users to ask “Jesus” questions for $1.99 per minute. The AI is based on Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in The Chosen Series. One X user reacted, “You can talk to the actual Jesus for free.”
- Consumer Affairs reports that the average American spends four hours and 30 minutes a day on their phone and checks their device 205 times a day.
- A Fox News Poll found that a record 70% of voters think their taxes are too high, up from 60% in 2025.
- Federal refunds are up 11% this year, largely due to Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill tax cuts.
- Elon Musk admitted he almost went to the hospital and “felt like I was dying,” after taking his second Covid-19 vaccine.
- A new study from EduBirdie found that 47% of young women aged 18 to 29 desire a stable life with a husband and kids, while 23% say their dream life would be that of a “girlboss.”
15. NOTEWORTHY QUOTES:
- “Progressives like Wilson argued that America needed to leave behind the principles of the founding and catch up with the more advanced and sophisticated system of relatively unimpeded state power, nearly perfect, perfected… Progressives strove to undo the Declaration’s commitment to equality and natural rights, both of which they denied were self-evident… Liberty no longer preceded the government as a gift from God, but was to be enjoyed at the grace of the government.” –Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas
- “Christianity is not only a religion, but is also a culture on which we have built a whole civilization. This is not a choice, but a fact.” –Viktor Orban
- “If we lose the family, nothing else matters. If we lose the government, the government’s going to hurt our ability to live as a family and live as Christians. And of course, if we lose the gospel, we’ve lost everything.” –Frank Turek
- “It was wonderful to see the Change soon made in the Manners of our Inhabitants; from being thoughtless or indifferent about Religion, it seem’d as if all the World were growing Religious; so that one could not walk thro’ the Town in an Evening without Hearing Psalms sung in different Families of every Street.” –Benjamin Franklin on the Great Awakening
- “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” –Hosea 4:6
FAITH, FAMILY & FREEDOM REPORT
1. MARK HOUCK WINS MASSIVE SETTLEMENT: Pro-life Dad Mark Houck was awarded more than $1 million after having his home raided by the FBI and being charged under the FACE Act, which the Biden regime used to silence pro-lifers. 40 Days For Life President Shawn Carney called the settlement “a huge victory for all Americans who want our right to speak our minds peacefully in a law-abiding way without fear of our own government.”
2. HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPLE STOPS SHOOTER: Courageous Oklahoma high school principal Kirk Moore tackled a would-be school shooter who was attempting to fire on students. Moore was shot in the leg, but he was able to restrain the shooter along with another staff member until police arrived. Moore recalled, “I am grateful that my instincts and training, as well as God’s hand, were available to me on Tuesday.”
3. TRUMP ADMIN LAUNCHES FREEDOM WEBSITE: The U.S. government unveiled its new Freedom 250 website, dedicated to helping America celebrate freedom on the anniversary of its birthday. CEO Keith Krach said the website “establishes a single, inspiring destination where Americans can come together to reflect on our past, celebrate our present, and build toward the next 250 years of freedom and opportunity.”
4. ABORTION BUFFER ZONES DEFEATED: Judges in Germany and Austria ruled that prayer and vigils cannot be considered criminal in buffer zones around abortion mills. A German court said the law does not “generally [prohibit] the expression of opinion nor the confrontation of pregnant women with the opinions of those attending the gathering.” This comes as attacks on pro-lifers remain high in Europe.
5. COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF TRUMP ADMINISTRATION: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled 2-1 against Judge James Boasberg, who had blocked the Trump administration’s deportation agenda and held the Trump administration in contempt of court. The majority opinion read, “The district court proposes to probe high-level Executive Branch deliberations about matters of national security and diplomacy. These proceedings are a clear abuse of discretion.”
6. ALABAMA EXPANDS RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed the Alabama Released Time Credit Act, which gives children in public school the opportunity to be religiously educated. Greg Chafuen of Alliance Defending Freedom stressed, “Parents have the right and responsibility to guide the upbringing and education of their children… [The law] respects parents’ educational decisions, allowing public school children to be briefly excused from school to receive free, off-campus religious instruction.”
7. DOCTOR GIVES MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS FOR COVID SHOT: Dr. Mary Talley Bowden offered to grant free medical exemptions to any Texas medical students being forced to take the Covid shot. Bowden wrote, “I will write a medical exemption for any student in Texas facing this mandate – free of charge. If they deny my exemption, I will help you find a lawyer and raise money to sue them.”
8. KENTUCKY CRACKS DOWN ON ORGAN HARVESTING: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) signed a bill that would stop any attempt at organ harvesting if any sign of life is detected. Life Site News added, “The new law has teeth, and includes consequences for failing to comply with a request for a pause. Possible penalties include loss of licensing, suspension of institutional organ procurement privileges, and civil penalties.”
9. TENNESSEE PASSES CHARLIE KIRK ACT: The Tennessee Legislature passed the Charlie Kirk Act, a bill to protect free speech on college campuses. Bill sponsor Gina Bulso (R) stressed, “Preserving campus free speech is integral to encouraging civil discourse and protecting academic freedom. This legislation honors the legacy of Charlie Kirk by promoting thoughtful engagement and defending religious freedom.”
10. IDAHO PROTECTS DIGITAL PRIVACY: The state of Idaho passed a bill that bars the government from mandating that citizens “obtain, maintain, present, or use digital identification.” Slay News reported, “It explicitly bars the government from denying or restricting access to services based on whether someone uses digital identification… That includes any “service, benefit, license, employment, education, or access.”
11. PATRIOTS PROTEST IN IRELAND: Angry citizens protested in Dublin, Ireland, over the weekend, as fuel prices rise across the country. But according to one unnamed citizen, it was more than that. He stated, “Our culture, our religion. It’s all been hijacked and robbed by the globalists. The digital wallet is the mark of the devil. All of it. They’re trying to take it all away. We know who’s going to win. Jesus Christ is gonna win.”
12. FDA RELAXES RULES ON CERTAIN HEALTH PRODUCTS: The FDA is making it easier for Americans to access peptides, a move applauded by many wellness influencers. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated, “Today, we took long-overdue action to restore science, accountability, and the rule of law.” The Epoch Times recounted, “The FDA in 2023 labeled more than a dozen peptides, including BPC-157 and KPC, as substances banned for compounding.”
13. TENNESSEE REJECTS “PRIDE MONTH” FOR “NUCLEAR FAMILY MONTH”: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed a resolution designating June as “Nuclear Family Month” instead of “Pride Month.” The resolution notes that families are “the basic building block of Tennessee’s society throughout her formative years” and “built the United States of America and created prosperity within our nation.”
14. HAPPIER MARRIAGES HAPPEN IN RED STATES: A new report from the Institute for Family Studies and the Center for Christian Virtue found that marriages are happier and fertility rates are higher in red states. Nine of the top ten states on the Family Structure Index were red, while eight of the bottom ten states on the Index were blue states. Brad Wilcox of IFC explained, “Americans are increasingly likely to get married and have and raise their kids in Red America.”
15. BIBLE READING ON THE RISE: A new report from the American Bible Society found that interest in God’s Word is rising in the United States. Dr. John Farquhar Plake stated, “The number of Americans who are interested in and open to the Bible has swelled by 9 million people over the last 2 years. Bible Curious Americans tell us that they would welcome someone to guide them through the complexity of the Bible.”
16. 500 LEADERS TO READ ENTIRE BIBLE ALOUD: Nearly 500 leaders will read the entire Bible aloud at the Museum of the Bible from April 18 to 25. Readers include War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Rev. Franklin Graham, Dr. Ben Carson, six governors, and 20 members of Congress. The event’s website says, “In honor of the 250th birthday of the United States, America Reads the Bible serves as a spiritual celebration of our nation’s founding ideals and a call to rediscover the truth that still anchors us today.”
HYMN OF THE WEEK
Face to Face With Christ, My Savior by Carrie E. Breck
Face to face with Christ, my Savior!
Face to face—what will it be?
When with rapture I behold Him,
Jesus Christ who died for me?
Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky!
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!
Only faintly now I see Him,
With the darkened veil between,
But a blessed day is coming,
When His glory shall be seen.
What rejoicing in His presence,
When are banished grief and pain!
Death is swallowed up in vict’ry,
And the dark things shall be plain.
Face to face—oh, blissful moment!
Face to face—to see and know!
Face to face with my Redeemer,
Jesus Christ who loves me so!
Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky!
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!
