Trump's Media Ban Faces Court; Justice for Nolan Wells

Three outlets. One podium. One ruling today. Good morning. This is The Gospel Briefing. I'm Charles King. A federal judge in Washington rules today on whether to temporarily lift President Trump's ban on CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from entering the White House. Last week, the President barred the three outlets, accusing them of spreading fake news. Press passes were pulled. Reporters were turned away at the gate. The outlets sued, calling the ban unconstitutional under the First Amendment. The Justice Department responded this week. It accuses the three of, quote, trafficking in verifiable falsehoods, and says some reporting threatened national security. The filing cites stories about White House construction, a security bunker, a new ballroom, and a leak investigation. The government's core argument is one sentence. Access to the White House is a privilege, not a right. Meanwhile, major TV networks have pulled out of the White House press pool in protest. And the White House launched its own streaming channel, Trump TV. Twenty-four hours a day of the President. Here is why it matters. Christians are not required to trust every reporter. But we are required to want the truth to be findable. When the powerful decide which questions are legal to ask, Scripture has seen this before. Kings in the Old Testament kept prophets on payroll to tell them what they wanted to hear. Micaiah was the one they hated, because he told the truth. First Kings twenty-two. If you want to follow along this morning, keep First Kings open in Bible Copilot. Two developments sharpening the same question. In Mississippi, a grand jury declined to bring charges in the death of Nolan Wells, the Black teenager found dead after a Fourth of July boating trip with a group of white friends. The state medical examiner and a pathologist hired by the family both ruled the death undetermined, though consistent with drowning. The Jackson County district attorney says there is not a shred of evidence that race played a role. The family, standing with attorney Benjamin Crump, says the investigation should stay open. There is no clean take here. A family is asking to keep looking. Proverbs twenty-nine, verse seven, says the righteous care about justice for the poor. In Scripture, caring often just means refusing to look away. Second. Republican Senator John Curtis of Utah is calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate and subpoena Donald Trump Jr. after reports that a Russian businessman helped bankroll his wedding party. Curtis wrote, quote, a toaster is a wedding gift. A private island party paid for by a Putin-connected oligarch is something else. Curtis is also calling for Hunter Biden to be subpoenaed, arguing presidential families should be held to the same standard regardless of party. Notice that last line. Same rule, both sides. That is not a partisan instinct. It is a biblical one. Leviticus nineteen, fifteen. You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial. Pray for wisdom today before you repeat what you have heard. And one practice: before you share a story, ask whether you would share it if the party label were reversed. This episode is presented by Bible Copilot. Open Bible Copilot and study the Verse of the Day first. It walks you through what the passage says, what it means, what it teaches about God, and how to apply it. Start at mybiblecopilot dot com slash gospel. That's mybiblecopilot dot com slash gospel, or search Bible Copilot in the App Store. Today's verse is Micah six, verse eight. He has told you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. Justice. Kindness. Humility. Three things no press office can revoke. Three things you can carry into any room today, whether the cameras are allowed in or not. Thanks for listening to The Gospel Briefing. The God of truth has not moved. I'll see you tomorrow.