😲 Robert F. Kennedy Might Endorse Trump!

GREETINGS!

I’ve had it with this week! Oh wait, it’s only Wednesday…

🔔 In today’s email:

🏠 Putin Wants You to Move to Russia
⛪ Historical Ukrainian Orthodox Church Potentially Banned

🚨 KEY STORIES:

🫏 The Democratic National Convention: Day One and Two Updates
🗳️ Robert F. Kennedy May Dropout and Endorse Trump

-Mike

QUICK BITE

Russia Appeals to Frustrated Foreign Citizens

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new decree allowing foreign citizens and stateless people to apply for temporary residency in Russia.

• This opportunity is for those who share "traditional Russian spiritual and moral values." Even if they don't speak Russian, they can apply.

• The decree targets people who oppose what it calls the "destructive neoliberal ideological agenda" in their own countries.

• These individuals can seek "humanitarian support" from Russia by applying for temporary residency.

The Russian government and Foreign Ministry have 30 days to list the countries they believe are following a "destructive neoliberal agenda."

• Applicants under this new rule won't need to prove they know the Russian language, history, or laws.

• Russian officials are trying to attract conservatives from Western countries, promoting Russia as a place of traditional values.

• Earlier this year, Russia announced plans for a "migrant village" near Moscow for conservative American expats. Recently, an American family sought temporary asylum in Russia due to concerns about declining traditional values and education in the U.S.

QUICK BITE

Historical Ukrainian Orthodox Church to be Banned by Government

@itsmikeluso

#christian #news

Ukraine's Parliament passed a bill on Tuesday that could legally ban the historical Orthodox Church that has been established since 988 AD, intensifying the ongoing split between Orthodox communities in Ukraine and Russia.

• Ukrainian officials have accused this church of aiding Russia through influence operations and espionage during the war.

• The schism between the churches has been a significant factor in the conflict, as Orthodox Christianity is the dominant religion in both countries.

• Although the Orthodox Church of Ukraine broke from the Russian church over 30 years ago, many Ukrainian parishes remain in communion with Moscow.

• The continued presence of the historical church in Ukraine has created national security concerns, especially as some of its priests have supported the Russian invasion.

If President Volodymyr Zelensky signs the bill into law, it could result in a legal ban on the church.

• The bill specifically targets any church allegedly supporting the invasion and being complicit in war crimes, while also establishing a committee to investigate any ongoing ties between Ukrainian churches and the Moscow patriarchate.

• Although the historical church claims it cut ties with Moscow at the start of the war, many Ukrainians view this as insincere.

• Public support for banning the church is high, with 63% of Ukrainians favoring its outlawing according to a recent poll.

• However, the bill's complex implementation process means that any legal ban is still months or years away.

Orthodox Christians Are Critical of the Bill Due to it Violating Religious Freedom

• Critics says the Ukrainian government should not determine the legitimacy of churches or decide which can operate openly and which should be suppressed.

• Orthodox Christians believe if enacted, this law is unlikely to harm Russia but may divide Ukrainians along religious lines.

• It could also unjustly target innocent Christians who are not involved in aiding Russia's aggression.

The law gives UOC parish and monastery communities 9 months to sever ties with the Russian Church.

You can read more about the bill and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church here.

KEY STORY

What’s Been Happening at the DNC so Far?

Republicans for Kamala Remain Critical of Trump

The DNC highlighted former Republicans urging independents and Trump critics to support Harris.

• Mayor John Giles of Mesa, Arizona, a lifelong Republican, spoke during prime-time, praising the Biden-Harris administration for delivering results.

• Giles stated, "John McCain’s Republican Party is gone," and urged voters to "put country first."

• His speech followed appearances by Republicans and ex-Republicans backing Harris.

A video featured three former Trump voters criticizing Trump for not respecting the Constitution and his felony convictions.

• Kyle Sweetser, a Nikki Haley supporter, shared concerns about Trump’s tariff policies, which raised costs for his construction work.

• Stephanie Grisham, former Trump White House press secretary, condemned Trump, revealing he mocks his supporters in private.

• Grisham described Trump as lacking "empathy, morals, and fidelity to the truth."

Harris Promises to Fix the Economy

Vice President Kamala Harris, part of the Biden administration since 2021, pledged to lower grocery prices if elected president and has proposed a ban on "price gouging" by food suppliers and grocery stores to address high grocery prices.

• Despite being the current vice president, Harris believes January 2025 is the right time to address grocery prices, rather than before the upcoming holidays or election.

• This proposal is part of a broader plan to lower costs for housing, medicine, and food.

Under the Biden-Harris administration, grocery prices have increased by 21%, contributing to overall inflation of about 19%.

“My plan will include new penalties for opportunistic companies that exploit crises and break the rules,” Harris said at a campaign event.

Democrats Aim to be Pro-Israel Despite Protests

George Latimer, who won against Rep. Jamaal Bowman in the primary, believes Democratic voters prefer a pro-Israel stance.

• He stated, "Democrats to the greater extent are supportive of the state of Israel," and downplayed the impact of protests on policy.

• Anti-Israel protests occurred outside the DNC, with some protesters breaching barriers.

• Latimer's victory, he claims, represents the broad base of the Democratic Party, though he acknowledges differing opinions.

• He emphasized that support for democracy underpins Democratic support for Israel and cited Hamas violence as a key barrier to peace in the region.

Chicago police arrested several Pro-Palestine protesters outside the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday.

• Protests focused on U.S. policy towards Israel and other left-wing issues.

• On Monday, some protesters breached a perimeter barrier, leading to arrests.

• Additional arrests were made by Tuesday evening as protests persisted.

KEY STORY

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Trump Alliance May Happen Soon

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s running mate Nicole Shanahan says the Kennedy campaign is considering dropping out of the race and endorsing Trump.

The comments came during a podcast appearance on Tom Bilyeu's Impact Theory.

Shanahan said there are currently two options:

1. "Staying in and forming that new party, but we run the risk of a Kamala Harris and Waltz presidency because we draw votes from Trump..."

2. "Or we walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump."

Kennedy then took to X with his own response saying he is “willing to talk with leaders of any political party to further the goals I have served for 40 years in my career and in this campaign.”

So whoever aligns with his ideals the most he may endorse. Which are: reversing the chronic disease epidemic, ending the war machine, cleaning corporate influence out of government and toxic pollution out of the environment, protecting freedom of speech, and ending politicization of enforcement agencies.

Kennedy has made very harsh critics of the Democratic Party saying, “VP Harris’s Democratic Party would be unrecognizable to my father and uncle and I cannot reconcile it with my values.”

So it may be unlikely that he will endorse Kamala Harris.

Trump told CNN he might offer RFK Jr. a role in his administration if the independent candidate quits the 2024 race and endorses him.

Trump expressed his admiration for RFK Jr., calling him "brilliant" and "very smart."

He mentioned having known RFK Jr. for a long time and would be open to collaboration if RFK Jr. considers dropping out of the race.

RFK Jr.'s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, hinted at the possibility of joining forces with Trump.

Whispers of reports claim that sources within RFK Jr.'s presidential campaign confirm he will drop out of the race on Friday.

RFK Jr. is expected to endorse Trump at an event in Los Angeles on the same day.

HEADLINES
Here’s Some Small Talk Ammunition

FROM THE EDITOR

You’re a special kind of person if you reached the end of the road here. :)

-Mike