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In the news today: A close House vote over curbing Trump’s ability to wage war in Iran; AP obtains 911 calls with revelations about ICE’s largest detention camp; and why “Christ is king” is now a loaded phrase in U.S. politics. Also, with clocks springing forward this weekend, a look at the debate over daylight saving time. |
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., pauses before taking questions about President Donald Trump’s decision to embark on a war against Iran and demands by Democrats to get congressional approval, at a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) |
House narrowly rejects limiting Trump’s war powers in Iran war |
The 212-219 vote rejecting a resolution to curb President Donald Trump’s powers is an early sign of unease in Congress over the rapidly widening conflict that is reordering U.S. priorities at home and abroad. Read more. |
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It’s the second vote in as many days, after the Senate defeated a similar measure. While the tally in the House was expected to be tight, the outcome provided a clarifying snapshot of political support for, and opposition to, the U.S.-Israel military operation and Trump’s rationale for bypassing Congress, which alone has the power to declare war. At the Capitol, the conflict has quickly carried echoes of the long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and many Sept. 11-era veterans now serve in Congress.
Trump has scrambled to win support for the nearly week-old conflict as Americans of all political persuasions take stock. Administration officials spent hours behind closed doors on Capitol Hill this week trying to reassure lawmakers that they have the situation under control. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the war could extend eight weeks, twice as long as the president first estimated. Trump has left open the possibility of sending U.S. troops into what has largely been a bombing campaign until now.
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911 calls reveal pain, despair at ICE’s largest detention camp |
Camp East Montana is the nation’s largest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility. Stories of conditions at the Texas facility, revealed in data and recordings from more than a hundred 911 calls obtained by the AP — in addition to follow-up interviews and court filings — offer a disturbing portrait of overcrowding, medical neglect, malnutrition and emotional distress. Read more.
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Each 911 call is its own tale of pain and despair. A man sobs after being assaulted by another detainee. A pregnant woman complained of severe back pain and also had coronavirus. “Every day felt like a week. Every week felt like a month. Every month felt like a year,” said Owen Ramsingh, who spent several weeks in the camp. “Camp East Montana was 1,000% worse than a prison.”
Detainees describe a camp where an average of about 3,000 people have lived per day in loud and unsanitary quarters, diseases spread easily and sleep is a luxury. Detainees struggle to obtain medication and health care, lose concerning amounts of weight because of a lack of food, and live in fear of private security guards known to use force to put down disturbances.
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In an email, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson who did not provide their name rejected claims of subprime conditions, saying Camp East Montana detainees receive food, water and medical treatment in a facility that is regularly cleaned.
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‘Christ is king’ becomes a loaded phrase in US political debates, especially on the right |
On its own, the phrase “Christ is king” sums up a core tenet of the Christian faith, that Jesus is the divine ruler of the universe. But the ancient proclamation can morph into something political, controversial or even sinister, depending on who says it and how it’s said. Read more. |
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In recent years, “Christ is king” and similar phrases have been chanted at political rallies, posted on social media and proclaimed in speeches by voices on the right. At times the phrase is used to support the notion of America as a Christian nation or as one that owes its allegiance specifically to the Christian God. Some current Cabinet officials and recent members of Congress have used the phrase in speeches and on social media.
But other times, political activists have paired “Christ is king” with anti-Zionist statements or negative Jewish stereotypes. The phrase has gained popularity among far-right figures and their followers. Conservative influencer Candace Owens, who shares antisemitic conspiracies, sells branded “Christ is King” coffee mugs and T-shirts.
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There are times when the use of the phrase “Christ is king” is unquestionably hostile toward Jews, said a 2025 report by the Rutgers University-affiliated Network Contagion Research Institute. Analyzing social media postings between 2021 and 2024, the institute reported a dramatic increase of the phrase “Christ is king,” often used as a hate meme targeting Jews. The report lamented this deviation from its historical use as a hopeful, sacred affirmation with biblical roots.
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