The Supreme Court issues landmark decisions every term. But they normally don鈥檛 involve obscure sections of the Constitution, a presidential election, and a need for speed. Trump v. Anderson is going to test the justices鈥 ability to work as a court.
Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and we鈥檝e always been transparent about that.
The church publishes the Monitor because it sees good journalism as vital to progress in the world. Since 1908, we鈥檝e aimed 鈥渢o injure no man, but to bless all mankind,鈥 as our founder, Mary Baker Eddy, put it.
Here, you鈥檒l find award-winning journalism not driven by commercial influences 鈥 a news organization that takes seriously its mission to uplift the world by seeking solutions and finding reasons for credible hope.
Explore values journalism About usAs an American living in Europe, I was drawn to Stephanie Hanes鈥 story about Americans living in Portugal. One line jumped out: 鈥渢he appeal of a culture with less focus on consumption and 鈥榩roductivity,鈥 and more freedom from stressors of racism, gun violence, and toxic political divisions.鈥
Europe is no paradise. From immigration to the economy, its problems are in some ways worse than those in the United States. But the quote above rings true in Berlin, too. There are worries and disappointments here, but not division like we see in the U.S.
The good news? The solution starts with simple kindnesses. Just read Stephanie鈥檚 story. Alfreda Chandler will tell you.听
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The Supreme Court issues landmark decisions every term. But they normally don鈥檛 involve obscure sections of the Constitution, a presidential election, and a need for speed. Trump v. Anderson is going to test the justices鈥 ability to work as a court.
鈥 Hamas cease-fire proposal:听Hamas proposes quieting the guns in Gaza for 4 1/2 months, during which all Oct. 7 hostages would go free, Israel would withdraw, and an agreement to end the war would be reached. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the proposals, calling them 鈥渄elusional.鈥澨
鈥⑻鼴id to impeach border official fails:听The U.S. House of Representatives votes against impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, President Joe Biden鈥檚 top border official.
鈥⑻淣one鈥 wins Nevada primary: The top vote-getter in Tuesday鈥檚 Republican presidential primary in Nevada was 鈥渘one of these candidates.鈥 Donald Trump did not compete in the primary and so was not on the ballot.
鈥 Zimbabwe scraps death penalty:听Zimbabwe鈥檚 Cabinet agrees to abolish a death penalty law inherited from British colonial rule, choosing instead to impose lengthy prison sentences for the worst offenses.
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Election-year partisanship听often makes听it听hard听to pass major legislation, but a U.S. Senate vote today stood out. After months of pursuing one of their top priorities, Republicans backtracked听to preserve听a campaign听weapon听against Democrats.听
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For the first time, a U.S. jury found the parent of a school shooter criminally responsible for the murders their child committed. The Michigan verdict, if upheld on appeal, could mark an important shift in how parental culpability is viewed.
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To hear it from Tucker Carlson or his Russian fans, his soon-to-be-aired interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin is an exercise in journalistic parity. But both Mr. Carlson and the Kremlin are pushing agendas.
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Portugal is gaining popularity with U.S. citizens looking to move abroad. Reasons include the expected, like weather and the cost of living, as well as ones that hint at people鈥檚 deeper needs when trying to build a good life.听
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In our progress roundup, both physical movement and mental exercises are helping people heal and flourish. In Colombia, salsa dancers are coping with gender violence. And around the world, children are cultivating an inner strength.听
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When the British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, said in December at a climate summit that 鈥渃limate politics is close to [a] breaking point,鈥 he probably didn鈥檛 know how close. Within weeks, farmers descended on capitals across Europe 鈥 the world鈥檚 leader in efforts at decarbonization 鈥 largely demanding greater fairness and transparency in policies aimed at agriculture. In many cities, the pitchfork rebellions halted street commerce.
The impact of the protests on European leaders was both swift and startling in showing how to restore climate politics to a healthy state.
On Jan. 25, the European Commission opened its first 鈥渟trategic dialogue鈥 with the farming and food industry to shape a 鈥渟hared vision.鈥 Then on Feb. 6, the commission, which is the executive arm of the European Union, reduced the goal of cutting agricultural emissions as well as government subsidies for fossil fuels.
While those latter steps seem like a setback for climate action, they came with a shift in tone that may herald a more effective approach toward slowing global warming. Notably, the commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, acknowledged that many farmers 鈥渇eel pushed into a corner.鈥
鈥淚t is true. Issues have escalated in recent years. Our farmers deserve to be listened to,鈥 she said in a Feb. 1 speech. To avoid a 鈥渂lame game,鈥 farmers must now be in "the driving seat鈥 on finding climate solutions.
They need, she said, to see profits as they adopt nature-enhancing measures. 鈥淧erhaps we have not made that case convincingly,鈥 she added. 鈥淲e should place more trust in them.鈥
Then Ms. von der Leyen hit on what can most heal the world鈥檚 broken politics over climate: 鈥淲e need to move beyond a polarised debate and to create trust. Trust is the crucial basis for viable solutions.鈥
Her humility to listen, to deliberate more widely, and to be held accountable for failed policy may help reset trust in Europe鈥檚 progress toward a green future. She said success on climate action requires a bottom-up approach or, as she put it, 鈥渁 willingness to listen to each other.鈥
With elections for the European Parliament in June, the commission president hopes that the coming months of political debate on climate will be 鈥渁n important opportunity to secure public engagement.鈥 She can thank Europe鈥檚 farmers for that, just as she thanked them for the hard work of producing 鈥渢he quality food we eat.鈥
Each weekday, the Monitor includes one clearly labeled religious article offering spiritual insight on contemporary issues, including the news. The publication 鈥 in its various forms 鈥 is produced for anyone who cares about the progress of the human endeavor around the world and seeks news reported with compassion, intelligence, and an essentially constructive lens. For many, that caring has religious roots. For many, it does not. The Monitor has always embraced both audiences. The Monitor is owned by a church 鈥 The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston 鈥 whose founder was concerned with both the state of the world and the quality of available news.
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If obstacles are hindering our progress, learning more about our nature and role as God鈥檚 children helps us find freedom in our path forward.
We鈥檙e grateful you could听join us today. Tomorrow, we鈥檒l dive into the new power-sharing agreement in Northern Ireland, which gives a picture of what peace after decades of war can look like.听 听