Several Christian athletes are using the World Cup stage to share their beliefs openly. Among them are players from Iraq — a country where the Christian population has dropped dramatically, from an estimated 1.5 million in 2003 to roughly 150,000 today. Iraqi midfielder Aimar Sher has been vocal about his faith, posting photos to social media showing him in an “I Belong to Jesus” T-shirt. U.S. forward Christian Pulisic has also been open about his Christian faith, frequently wearing a cross necklace his mother gave him. Pulisic has led Bible study sessions with teammates and has shared photos on Instagram of scripture passages he has personally underlined.
The Federal Trade Commission, along with the states of Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas, has filed a lawsuit against the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. The suit alleges the organization made misleading claims about puberty-blocking drugs and gender transition surgeries for minors, and that its members financially benefited from those claims. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson posted on X: “Parents have a right to make informed decisions about their children’s health. This department will not allow parents and children to be deceived by medical organizations and providers who are prioritizing profit over children’s health and safety.”
Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley has written a formal letter to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred regarding an incident earlier this month in San Francisco. Manfred issued a reprimand to several members of the Giants after they wrote Bible verses on their uniforms as a protest against the team’s Gay Pride Night festivities. In the letter, Hawley states he has “grave concern” about the league’s warning to those players, arguing that MLB is compelling players to show support for the LGBT agenda through Pride-themed uniforms. Hawley’s letter requests answers to several questions, including a full accounting of all uniform violation fines issued over the past five years.
Clergy members and other Evangelical Christian leaders are sounding the alarm over a fast-growing form of gambling known as prediction markets. Platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket allow users to place bets on real-world events, including political and news-related outcomes. Critics argue this type of wagering could potentially sway events like elections. There have already been documented cases of campaign staffers admitting to using insider knowledge about polling results to place bets on their own candidates before favorable data became public. Some candidates have also faced criticism for placing wagers on the outcomes of their own campaigns.
