Latest news with #NationalDayofPrayer
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump ally wins presidential election in Poland: 6 things to know
Poland elected a conservative nationalist, Karol Nawrocki, to lead the country as its next president, in an election that could have broad implications for the future of Europe Nawrocki is set to take office Aug. 6. Here's what to know about the election: President Trump hosted Nawrocki at the White House last month, in a sign of support shortly before the election. The two men posed for photos, shaking hands and giving a thumbs-up gesture in the Oval Office. Nawrocki told the Polish TV station TV Republika that Trump told him, 'you will win,' Reuters reported. 'I read it as a kind of wish for my success in the upcoming elections, and also awareness of it, and after this whole day, I can say that the American administration is aware of what is happening in Poland,' Nawrocki added at the time. The interview came after Nawrocki attended the National Day of Prayer at the White House. The Trump administration has signaled its support for the right-wing candidate in other ways. When the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) hosted its first meeting in Poland last week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem gave a clear endorsement of the conservative candidate. 'I just had the opportunity to meet with Karol, and listen: He needs to be the next president of Poland. Do you understand me?' she said at the start of her speech. 'We need you to elect the right leader,' Noem added. 'You will be the leaders that will turn Europe back to conservative values.' She also seemed to imply Nawrocki's election would strengthen the country's relationship with the U.S. 'If you [elect] a leader that will work with President Donald J. Trump, the Polish people will have an ally strong that will ensure that you will be able to fight off enemies that do not share your values,' Noem said. 'You will have strong borders and protect your communities and keep them safe, and ensure that your citizens are respected every single day,' she added. 'You will continue to have a U.S. presence here, a military presence. And you will have equipment that is American-made, that is high-quality.' Nawrocki, 42, is a conservative historian with no previous political experience. He narrowly defeated the liberal candidate, Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, netting 50.89 percent of the vote. The victory is seen as a sign of the enduring appeal of right-wing populism and nationalist rhetoric in Europe. Nawrocki built his campaign on a patriotic message, espousing traditional Catholic values and vowing to defend Poland's sovereignty from Germany and other larger European nations. 'Poland remains a deeply divided country,' Jacek Kucharczyk, the president of the Polish Institute of Public Affairs, told The Associated Press. 'Although the electoral turnout was highest ever in history of presidential elections, Mr. Nawrocki's margin of victory is very small, which means that half of Poland will be cheering his presidency, whereas half of Poland, the other half, remains deeply worried or even disturbed,' Kucharczyk added. The election could have implications for the country's relationship with Ukraine. Nawrocki has signaled support for Ukraine's defense against Russia, but he opposes Ukraine's membership in NATO and has echoed some of the Trump administration's rhetoric in his approach to the country. He has questioned the long-term cost of aid to the country, in particular its refugees, and has suggested Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not sufficiently grateful for Poland's support. The election marks a setback for the European Union, as Nawrocki embraces nationalist ideology and criticizes 'overreach' by the EU into Poland's internal affairs, including its policies concerning judicial reforms and migration. 'This is very bad news for the European Union as well as Poland's key European partners, both Germany and France as well as Ukraine,' Kucharczyk said. 'Mr. Nawrocki is well known for his Eurosceptic stand. He's opposed to deepening European integration and European cooperation. He is also opposed to Ukraine's NATO membership,' he added. The Associated Press contributed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump ally wins presidential election in Poland: 6 things to know
Poland elected a conservative nationalist, Karol Nawrocki, to lead the country as its next president, in an election that could have broad implications for the future of Europe Nawrocki is set to take office on Aug. 6. Here's what to know about the election: Visit with Trump last month President Trump hosted Nawrocki at the White House last month, in a sign of support shortly before the election. The two men posed for photos, shaking hands and giving a thumbs-up gesture in the Oval Office. Nawrocki told private broadcaster TV Republika after the meeting that Trump told him, 'you will win,' Reuters reported at the time. 'I read it as a kind of wish for my success in the upcoming elections, and also awareness of it, and after this whole day I can say that the American administration is aware of what is happening in Poland,' Nawrocki added at the time. The interview came after Nawrocki attended the National Day of Prayer at the White House. CPAC endorsement The Trump administration has signaled its support for the right-wing candidate in other ways. When the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) hosted its first meeting in Poland last week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem gave a clear endorsement of the conservative candidate. 'I just had the opportunity to meet with Karol and listen: He needs to be the next president of Poland. Do you understand me?' she said at the start of her speech. 'We need you to elect the right leader,' Noem added. 'You will be the leaders that will turn Europe back to conservative values.' She also seemed to imply that Nawrocki's election would strengthen the country's relationship with the U.S. 'If you (elect) a leader that will work with President Donald J. Trump, the Polish people will have an ally strong that will ensure that you will be able to fight off enemies that do not share your values,' Noem said. 'You will have strong borders and protect your communities and keep them safe, and ensure that your citizens are respected every single day,' she added. 'You will continue to have a U.S. presence here, a military presence. And you will have equipment that is American-made, that is high quality.' No political experience Nawrocki, 42, is a conservative historian with no previous political experience. He narrowly defeated the liberal candidate, Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, with 50.89 percent of the vote. Rising conservative populism The victory is seen as a sign of the enduring appeal of right-wing populism and nationalist rhetoric in Europe. Nawrocki built his campaign on a patriotic message, espousing traditional Catholic values and vowing to defend Poland's sovereignty from Germany and other larger European nations. 'Poland remains a deeply divided country,' Jacek Kucharczyk, the president of the Polish Institute of Public Affairs, told The Associated Press. 'Although the electoral turnout was highest ever in history of presidential elections, Mr. Nawrocki's margin of victory is very small, which means that half of Poland will be cheering his presidency, whereas half of Poland, the other half, remains deeply worried or even disturbed,' Kucharczyk added. Implications for Ukraine The election could have implications for the country's relationship with Ukraine. Nawrocki has signaled support for Ukraine's defense against Russia, but he opposes Ukraine's membership in NATO and has echoed some of the Trump administration's rhetoric in his approach to the country. He has questioned the long-term cost of aid to the country, in particular its refugees, and has suggested Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not sufficiently grateful for Poland's support. Setback for EU The election marks a setback for the European Union, as Nawrocki embraces nationalist ideology and criticizes so-called overreach by the EU into Poland's internal affairs, including its policies concerning judicial reforms and migration. 'This is very bad news for the European Union as well as Poland's key European partners, both Germany and France as well as Ukraine,' Kucharczyk said. 'Mr. Nawrocki is well known for his Eurosceptic stand. He's opposed to deepening European integration and European cooperation. He is also opposed to Ukraine's NATO membership,' he added. The Associated Press contributed.
Fox News
2 days ago
- General
- Fox News
America is rediscovering its soul and reviving the sacred
Faith is making a comeback in America. This is not a statement of hope, but one rooted in research, confirmed by cultural observation, and underscored by national conversations from the White House to the locker room. Recent findings from the Barna Group reflect a spiritual resurgence that is both unexpected and undeniable. According to their data, more Americans—particularly Millennials and Gen Z—are returning to church, reading Scripture, and expressing a desire for spiritual depth. What was once considered a post-Christian society is now showing signs of rediscovering its soul. This reawakening begins in the home. The Barna study reveals a growing hunger among families to center life around transcendent values. The notion of God is no longer confined to stained-glass windows or whispered prayers at bedtime—it is returning to the dinner table, to everyday conversation, and to the moral compass guiding how parents raise their children. Amid cultural chaos, many households are reclaiming their role as the first sanctuary, the first seminary, and the first school of truth. We are also witnessing faith step boldly back into the public square. From the reestablishment of the White House Faith Office to proclamations such as President Trump's deeply reverent Easter statement—arguably the boldest and most Christ-exalting language ever issued from the executive branch—faith is once again shaping the national dialogue. The National Day of Prayer is no longer a symbolic moment; it is an echo of America's founding covenant. This is not about partisanship—it is about spiritual substance becoming part of our civic discourse. But faith is not only being expressed in private homes and public offices. It is emerging in every sector of society. Consider the arts and entertainment world: from American Idol contestants boldly singing worship songs to NFL players kneeling in prayer before and after games, the name of Jesus is being lifted—not with fanfare, but with authenticity. These moments are no longer anomalies. They are becoming patterns. From postgame interviews to acceptance speeches, we are seeing athletes, artists, and cultural figures not just nod to faith, but name their Savior. What we are witnessing is a pushback—not just against unbridled secularism, but against a deeper threat: secular totalitarianism. A culture that once told people to keep their faith private now finds itself enriched by public expressions of belief. Why? Because when secularism becomes dogma, liberty becomes endangered. And in this moment, Americans of all backgrounds are realizing that religious liberty is the final firewall protecting our freedom. This resurgence is not only a victory for people of faith—it is a victory for all people. A nation rooted in a Judeo-Christian moral framework—where the rights of individuals are endowed by God, not granted by government—is a nation that guarantees freedom of conscience, even for those who disagree. It is precisely because of this framework that the atheist, the agnostic, and the seeker can speak freely. This is what sets America apart. Even cultural voices once perceived as indifferent to faith are reexamining their foundations. Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman has recently acknowledged a belief in Christ. Joe Rogan, whose podcast reaches millions, is exploring matters of spirituality and ultimate truth. We are living in a moment where scientists, philosophers, and artists are converging on something ancient: belief. We are entering what can only be described as an age of religious enlightenment—a season in which faith and reason are no longer in tension, but in tandem. This is the age of Aquinas and Augustine, of Kierkegaard and Lewis, of Tolkien, Lennox, Wright, and others. An age where orthodoxy is not an obstacle but a lifeline. Young men and women are hungry for truth, tired of relativism, and ready for something real. This is the pendulum swinging back. Not toward nostalgia—but toward a rediscovery of eternal absolutes. We must celebrate this moment. But we must also steward it. Because what is being built today may very well become the foundation for the America our children inherit tomorrow.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.S. judge contemplates holding AG Uthmeier in contempt of court
Attorney General James Uthmeier speaks during a National Day of Prayer event at the Capitol complex on May 1, 2025. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) MIAMI — A federal judge locked horns repeatedly with the prominent lawyer defending Attorney General James Uthmeier during a hearing Thursday on potential sanctions against the state's top legal officer amid a suit over a new state immigration law. U.S. Judge Kathleen Williams stated multiple times that Uthmeier was not above the law and that he had to abide by the court's orders. But Uthmeier may emerge from the legal quarrel relatively unscathed despite drawing Williams' ire for calling illegitimate and unlawful her order temporarily blocking the immigration law that led to the arrest of a U.S. citizen. Although it would be extraordinary for a judge to hold a Florida attorney general in contempt, the sanctions discussed during the hearing included having Uthmeier issue another directive, which she offered to write, to law enforcement clarifying that they can't enforce a law making it a first-degree misdemeanor for a person to enter the state as an 'unauthorized alien.' 'There needs to be an appreciation and abiding by court order, or else this all becomes anarchy,' Williams said. Uthmeier didn't attend the hearing. Plaintiffs' attorneys — from the ACLU Foundation of Florida, ACLU Foundation Immigrants' Rights Project, Americans For Immigrant Justice, and Community Justice Project — also want the judge to make the state pay their fees and establish a way to provide legal help for anyone who may have been arrested under the state law after April 18. The groups filed the suit on behalf of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, the Farmworker Association of Florida, and two women lacking permanent legal status. Feds blame U.S. citizen for his arrest under suspended immigration law An investigation by the Tampa Bay Times found that law enforcement arrested 25 people after Williams first blocked the law on April 4, but didn't find any arrests after April 18, when Williams ordered Uthmeier to notify law enforcement about her order. Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a U.S. citizen from Georgia, was one of those arrested by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper. The 20-year-old's arrest, first reported by Florida Phoenix, garnered international attention. At the heart of the hearing was a letter Uthmeier sent to law enforcement agencies, sheriffs, and police chiefs on April 23, stating that he couldn't stop them from making arrests under SB 4C, and that, in his view, 'no lawful, legitimate order currently impedes your agencies from continuing to enforce Florida's new illegal entry and reentry laws.' The April 23 letter came after another that Uthmeier had sent five days earlier, following Williams' order, stating that no arrests should take place. Uthmeier brought in Jesse Panuccio, who'd been acting U.S. associate attorney general for parts of President Donald Trump's first term, to represent him on Thursday. Panuccio got into heated back-and-forths with Williams over what he called an unfair interpretation of the letter that took it out of context. Panuccio, whom Uthmeier had named co-chairman of his transition team following his appointment as AG three months ago, scolded the judge for bringing up comments Uthmeier made in interviews and for talking about his social media posts. 'You invited me to consider context, and I am considering context,' Williams said to Panuccio. Elected or appointed officials, such as Uthmeier, shouldn't be policed over the comments they make in public as part of their job, Panuccio said. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Uthmeier, his then-chief of staff, to the top legal spot in the state in February. 'They do engage in puffery that has been part of our politics since the dawn of the republic,' Panuccio said. The judge is also contemplating requiring the defendants to submit weekly or monthly reports on arrests under the suspended law. The lack of reported arrests pointed to a consensus that Uthmeier's letter didn't violate the court order, Panuccio said. Cody Wofsy, deputy director of the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project, told the judge that the lack of arrests didn't exempt Uthmeier from the consequences of disobeying her order. 'It's not because of the attorney general's conduct, it's in spite of it,' Wofsy said. Leading up to the hearing, Uthmeier said during an interview that aired on Newsmax on May 6 that he wouldn't rubber stamp her order. Williams brought up that interview when she said she could write another letter and make Uthmeier send it to law enforcement groups. 'He need have no qualm about it being authorized by him,' she said. Uthemeier and the other defendants — the statewide prosecutor and state's attorneys — have appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Williams' injunction barring enforcement of the law. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Toronto Star
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Critics say Trump's religion agenda will benefit conservative Christians the most
White House Faith Office. A Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias. A Religious Liberty Commission. President Donald Trump has won plaudits from his base of conservative Christian supporters for establishing multiple faith-related entities. 'We're bringing back religion in our country,' Trump said at a recent Rose Garden event, on the National Day of Prayer, when he announced the creation of the Religious Liberty Commission. 'We must always be one nation under God, a phrase that they would like to get rid of, the radical left.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW But others, including some Christians, are alarmed by these acts — saying Trump isn't protecting religion in general but granting a privileged status to politically conservative expressions of Christianity that happen to include his supporters. What's up with the 'separation of church and state' debate? Critics are even more aghast that he's questioning a core understanding of the First Amendment. 'They say 'separation between church and state,'' Trump said at the prayer day gathering, when he talked about establishing the White House Faith Office. 'I said, all right, let's forget about that for one time.' Trump's creation of these various bodies is 'definitely not normal, and it's very important to not look at them as individual entities,' said the Rev. Shannon Fleck, executive director of Faithful America, a progressive Christian advocacy organization. 'They are indicative of an entire system that is being constructed at the national level,' she said. 'It's a system specifically designed to guide and shape culture in the U.S.' Fleck worries about the combined effect of Trump administration actions and a spate of decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court in recent years. The court, now with three Trump appointees, has lowered barriers between church and state in its interpretations of the First Amendment's ban on any congressionally recognized establishment of religion. 'My freedom of religion runs right up to the point when yours begins, and if I am then trying to establish something that's going to affect your right to practice your faith, that is against the First Amendment,' Fleck said. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW But religious supporters of Trump are happy with his expansion of religion-related offices. 'We were a nation birthed by prayer, founded on the Judeo-Christian ethic to ensure that people could worship as they wished,' said Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican, at the Rose Garden ceremony where he was announced as chair of the Religious Liberty Commission. Many members are conservative Christian clerics and commentators; some have supported Trump politically. The event featured Christian praise music along with Jewish, Muslim and Christian prayers. White House assistant press secretary Taylor Rogers, via email, said the commission is ensuring 'that all Americans' God-given right is protected, no matter their religion.' Rogers said the criticism is coming from anti-Trump advocacy groups that are trying to undermine his agenda. A closer look at the new religious entities The three entities created under Trump overlap in their marching orders and, in some cases, their membership. In February, Trump established the White House Faith Office, led by evangelist Paula White-Cain as a 'special government employee,' according to the announcement. She's resuming a similar role she held in the first Trump administration. White-Cain — who also serves on the new Religious Liberty Commission — was one of the earliest high-profile Christian leaders to support Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and is considered Trump's spiritual adviser. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Her office is designed to consult 'experts within the faith community' on 'practices to better align with the American values.' It also is tasked with religious-liberty training and promoting grant opportunities for faith-based entities; and working to 'identify failures' in federal protection for religious liberty. Also in February, Trump created a Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi with representatives from several federal departments. Its mandate is to expose and reverse what Trump claims were 'egregious' violations of Christians' rights under former President Joe Biden. Many of those claims have been disputed, as has the need for singling out for protection the nation's largest and most culturally and politically dominant religious group. A White House action focused on a specific religion is not unprecedented. The Biden administration, for example, issued strategy plans to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia. Both Trump administrations have issued executive orders on combating antisemitism. An April hearing of the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias featured witnesses from across federal departments, alleging that Christians during the Biden administration faced discrimination for such things as opposing vaccine mandates or 'DEI/LGBT ideology' on religious grounds. Some claimed that schools' legal or tax enforcement actions were actually targeted because of their Christian religion. The State and Veterans Affairs departments have asked people to report alleged instances of anti-Christian bias. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The White House said the Justice Department formed specific task forces to respond to what it called a 'concentration of bias' against Christians and Jews, but that it's committed to combating discrimination against Americans of any faith. The latest entity to be created, the Religious Liberty Commission, has a mandate to recommend policies to protect and 'celebrate America's peaceful religious pluralism.' Patrick, the chair, has supported legislation requiring Texas school districts to allow prayer time for students and says he wants his state to emulate Louisiana in requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in public school classrooms. Among the commission's mandates: to look into 'conscience protections in the health care field and concerning vaccine mandates' and government 'displays with religious imagery.' Among the commissioners are Catholic bishops, Protestant evangelists, a rabbi and attorneys focused on religious liberty cases. Its advisory boards include several Christian and some Jewish and Muslim members. A commission member, author and broadcaster, Eric Metaxas, supported its work in a column Friday for the conservative site Blaze Media. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'This commission's goal is to strengthen the liberty of every single American — regardless of that person's faith and even of whether that person has any faith,' he wrote. 'It also aims to restore those liberties attacked by hostile and misguided secularists.' Fulfilling a priority for Trump's conservative Christian backers Charles Haynes, senior fellow for religious liberty at the Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan foundation focused on First Amendment rights, said the various entities reflect Trump's attempt to fulfill an agenda priority of his conservative Christian supporters. He said the entities' work reflects their long-standing contention that the First Amendment has 'been misapplied to keep Christians out of the public square, to discriminate against Christianity, by which they mean their understandings of Christianity.' Trump's moves and recent Supreme Court cases are reversing a consensus dating at least to the 1940s that the First Amendment strictly prohibits government-sponsored religion at the federal and state levels, Haynes said. He said the First Amendment actually provides broad protections for religious expressions in settings such as public schools. He helped write a Freedom Forum guide on religion in public schools, endorsed by groups across the ideological spectrum. It notes that within some limits, students can pray on their own time in schools, express their faith in class assignments, distribute religious literature, form school religious clubs and receive some accommodations based on religious belief. But Haynes noted that the Supreme Court is now considering allowing Oklahoma to pay for a Catholic charter school, which he said could erase a long-standing standard that public-funded schools don't teach a particular religion. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'It's a very different day in the United States when both the Supreme Court and the president of the United States appear to be intent on changing the arrangement on religious freedom that we thought was in place,' Haynes said. 'It's a radical departure from how we've understood ourselves.' ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
