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Speaker Johnson Defends Border Security with Biblical Justification; Melinda French Gates Addresses Bill Gates' Epstein Ties
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended securing national borders by citing the Bible, while Melinda French Gates addressed the resurfacing of her ex-husband Bill Gates' connection to Jeffrey Epstein. These events unfolded against a backdrop of cultural and political discussions ranging from free speech debates in the UK to the relocation of war casualties in Ukraine.
Speaker Johnson, during a press conference on Capitol Hill, responded to a question about Pope Leo's critique of Donald Trump's deportation policies, which cited Matthew 25:35. Johnson offered a lengthy biblical defense of border protection. The exchange occurred after the House passed a funding bill.
Meanwhile, Melinda French Gates spoke about the renewed attention on Bill Gates' association with Jeffrey Epstein, stating it dredged up "painful times in my marriage," according to NPR. She expressed "unbelievable sadness" and said that "whatever questions remain" needed to be answered by those named in the records, including her ex-husband. The couple divorced in 2021, and she stated, "I am so happy to be away from all the muck."
In other news, Cardinal Timothy Dolan reflected on his 17 years as Archbishop of New York as he prepared to leave the role. Dolan told "Fox & Friends" he felt "gratitude" and excitement for his successor. "Is there some sadness? Yeah, because I love being an archbishop," Dolan said. "So, I have to be honest about that." He assured the faithful that he is "always a priest."
Across the Atlantic, Irish comedy writer Graham Linehan testified before Congress about free speech battles in the U.K. Linehan, who has faced criticism for his comments on transgender issues, argued that "ordinary people" are fighting culture-war disputes without clear leadership. He criticized U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer for avoiding the debate over transgender policies.
In Ukraine, Natalia, a war widow, moved her husband Vitaly's grave from their hometown of Slovyansk to Kyiv due to increasing Russian attacks. Vitaly was killed three years ago fighting in the eastern Donbas. The BBC reported that a trumpet salute and rifle fire marked the reburial in Kyiv.
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