The Daily Article

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By: The Denison Forum

The Daily Article Podcast offers news discerned differently every Monday through Friday morning. With biblical insight into the day’s latest news and current events, this narrated edition of Dr. Jim Denison’s email newsletter presents a nonpartisan perspective on what’s happening now and how Christians can respond biblically to the culture at large.

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How to avoid cyclosporiasis
Today at 11:38 AM

A parasitic outbreak of cyclosporiasis spreading across thirty-one states offers practical reminders about washing produce, but it also illustrates a deeper truth: treating symptoms is not the same as identifying their source. The same is true of the cultural chaos surrounding us. Scripture traces our moral illness not merely to society’s institutions or influences, but to the fallen human heart. Because everything we do flows from what we think and desire, guarding our hearts must begin with asking God to transform them.

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The sudden deaths of Sen. Lindsey Graham and actor Sam Neill: A reflection on hope and the transforming presence of God
Yesterday at 11:31 AM

The deaths of Senator Lindsey Graham, actor Sam Neill, and dozens of others in tragedies around the world remind us how quickly we move past headlines that fall outside our own “concentric circles of concern.” But God is not limited as we are. He is with us and in us every moment of every day, weeping as we weep and walking with us through the floods, fires, and fears of life. Imagine what today would be like if the all-loving, all-knowing, all-powerful God were truly in charge of it. This and nothing less is what the Christian life is supp...


Hearings for man accused of killing Charlie Kirk end today
Last Friday at 11:31 AM

Today marks ten months since Charlie Kirk was murdered while speaking at an event in Utah. Perhaps it’s fitting then that today also marks the end of the preliminary hearings for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Kirk. Yet conspiracy theories around Kirk’s death continue to proliferate, reminding us that we often seek explanations that feel emotionally satisfying over those that are simply true. As Paul warned, we are prone to gather teachers who suit our own passions and “turn away from listening to the truth.” Explore the evidence presented, why public conspiracy theories still thrive, and how...


Why Graham Platner’s resignation is relevant to us all
Last Thursday at 11:34 AM

Graham Platner suspended his Senate campaign in Maine last night after a series of controversies and allegations brought his past into national scrutiny. His story reminds us of the biblical warning, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” What we do today echoes tomorrow, often in ways we cannot imagine and cannot change. While God will forgive all we confess to him and forget all he forgives, the consequences of our actions often remain. The good news is that “whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,” but those who confess and forsake them “will obtain mercy.”

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President Trump says ceasefire with Iran is over
Last Wednesday at 11:40 AM

President Trump said this morning that he believes his ceasefire deal with Iran is over, the latest development in a conflict that has been going on for months with no apparent end. While we may not feel personally connected to the ninety-three million people living in Iran or those threatened by Iranian aggression in the region, the good news is that God does not feel the same way. The Lord who knows when a sparrow falls and has numbered the hairs on every head has present-tense compassion for every single member of the human race. One day, perhaps today...


US plays Belgium after Balogun’s suspension is overturned
07/07/2026

After the US men’s national soccer team controversy over Folarin Balogun’s suspension, every side had reason to protest what happened. There is something intrinsic in human nature that wants the world to be fair when we think we lose unfairly—but we don’t feel the same indignation when we win. This points us back to the five words in the Declaration of Independence that changed history: “all men are created equal.” Yet only when Jesus gives us a “new heart” can we love each other as he loves us, embracing the equality of all people and healing the raci...


A profound speech about America’s past and future
07/06/2026

As America celebrated our 250th birthday with “Pomp and Parade,” Carly Fiorina asked a question that speaks to our nation’s future: “Do we still have what it takes?” America is unique in that it was not founded on ethnicity, territory, or religion, but on the idea that “all men are created equal.” Yet while we embrace that principle, we struggle to live it out because it requires a degree of selfless love that humans cannot produce on our own. Only when we submit to God’s Spirit can he produce in us the agape love that empowers us to transform our...


Iran targets Christians as fear of US fades: Did our Founding Fathers sin by rebelling against the king?
07/03/2026

Iran has ranked among the top ten nations for Christian persecution every year since the Open Doors “World Watch List” began in 1993. As the Iranian government moves to confiscate St. Peter Evangelical Church—the nation’s oldest Protestant church—we’re reminded that believers there continue to face imprisonment, surveillance, and threats for their faith. As we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, their story raises a question worth revisiting: What does it mean to submit to governing authorities while following God above all? The conversation needs to start by going to God in prayer, remembering that he has a plan for...


Why John Adams thought July 2 was Independence Day
07/02/2026

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, the story of our nation's birth reminds us that July 4 marked not the beginning of independence, but the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence after months of debate and years of sacrifice. The signers knew they were committing an act of treason, yet John Adams believed “the End is more than worth all the Means.” Today, we reflect on why no human declaration can change the human heart, why democracy depends on “religion and morality,” and why the future of our nation depends on the personal transformation only Christ can bring.

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Supreme Court rules on transgender athletes in girls’ sports
07/01/2026

The US Supreme Court handed down a ruling Tuesday rejecting President Trump’s bid to end birthright citizenship and another upholding state restrictions on transgender athletes. However, the Court’s ruling on transgender athletes does not end the controversy. The justices determined that states can constitutionally ban biological boys from girls’ sports teams, not that they must. As our nation nears its 250th birthday, this issue points to a factor that was foundational to our founding and remains vital to our future. Those of us who benefit from those who bravely founded America now have an obligation to emulate their...


A win and three losses for President Trump at Supreme Court
06/30/2026

The US Supreme Court handed down several major decisions this week, once again demonstrating a uniquely American principle: ours is “a government of laws, not of men.” As America approaches its 250th anniversary, we can be grateful for the freedom of religion our Founders enshrined as our “first freedom.” But freedom of religion is transformative only if we choose a transformative religion. Today, we consider why the gospel is good news only if it is news—and why we must not fail to share this message wherever we can, with whomever we can, however we can.

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Ranch dressing, the World Cup, and America250
06/29/2026

Ranch dressing, the World Cup, and America250: What makes America unique, and what Americans need most

Article Description

As America’s 250th anniversary nears, patriotism is the order of the day. Amid stories celebrating our nation, one surprising symbol has emerged: ranch dressing, now beloved by visitors from around the world and described as “a face of the nation.” It’s a fitting picture of the “multicultural miracle” that is America. But today we consider how the same spirit of self-reliance that helped shape our nation can also keep us from God’s best, and why self-relia...


Stress on San Andreas Fault at thousand-year high
06/26/2026

Rescuers in Venezuela worked through the night Friday to save hundreds trapped in rubble and find thousands more missing in the aftermath of Wednesday’s earthquakes. What happened there could happen here: New research warns that stress on Southern California’s San Andreas and San Jacinto fault lines has reached the highest level in a thousand years, putting the region in a “critically loaded” state that could cause a large, multi-fault earthquake. Whether you and I live in an earthquake zone or not, we need hope that sustains our hearts in hazardous days. I found such encouragement recently in an unexp...


Soccer players glorify Jesus on the biggest stage in sports
06/25/2026

After America’s World Cup victory over Australia last Friday, Christian Pulisic shared a photo on Instagram showing several US players gathered in a circle on the field, their heads bowed in prayer. His teammate Mark McKenzie responded by referencing Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 and its reminder that “a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (v. 12). However, such faith is no guarantee that Christians will not suffer and struggle as do others. If faith does not protect us from trials, what good is it? You may be facing challenges today for which your faith does not seem relevant. You may even be sufferin...


Would it be good for society if more people were religious?
06/24/2026

According to a recent Gallup poll, 65 percent of US adults say it would be positive for society if more Americans were religious. With all the bad news in the news, including a “nightmare” shooting in Montreal, a deadly heat wave in Europe, and the rising threat of AI-fueled cyberattacks, surely being more religious would be good for humanity. But is this true? Clearly, while most Americans think “religion” is a good thing, this sentiment is true or false depending on the specific religion in view. Today, we explore the fact that if evangelical Christians are to persuade Americans that our reli...


“Team Algae” protests Trump Administration at Reflecting Pool
06/23/2026

At least five people have been arrested on vandalism charges related to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. It has been plagued with algae and peeling paint following a $16 million renovation. According to President Trump, the damage was the result of deliberate sabotage. If you’re thinking “only in America,” you’re mostly right. In a pluralistic society where all religions and speech acts that do not harm others are accorded freedom and protection, it’s easy to believe that all religions and speech acts are equivalent in value. But this cultural ethos is dangerous to our flourishing and our future.


British Prime Minister Kier Starmer to resign from office
06/22/2026

British Prime Minister Kier Starmer announced this morning that he would resign from office after losing support within his own party. His departure highlights a fundamental flaw in democracy: what it takes to be elected is not necessarily what it takes to govern. Yet the alternative—unchecked power in the hands of unelected leaders—comes with its own dangers. Today, we consider why effective democracy depends on the reality that humanity is fallen, why no person can be trusted with unchecked power, and why the ultimate key to governing each other is allowing Jesus to govern us first.

Ab...


Giants players brought faith to the field on Pride Night
06/19/2026

Every June, twenty-nine Major League Baseball teams host an LGBTQ+ Pride Night, but last Friday’s San Francisco Giants game drew national attention when several pitchers wrote “Gen 9:12–16” on their themed caps, pointing to God’s covenant rather than the modern meaning of the rainbow. Today, we consider what it means to be “persecuted for righteousness’ sake,” why not all criticism qualifies as persecution, and how a life of daily dedication to Christ prepares us to endure slander and ridicule with righteousness and grace.

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How a mother prevented an attack on our nation’s capital
06/18/2026

A tale of two women could have ended in a drastically different way. One mother’s decision to alert authorities helped stop an alleged attack on last Sunday’s UFC event at the White House, while another wife remained silent until the FBI arrived. Their stories lead us to a far more eternal question: What if people are not truly lost? Today, we wrestle with the urgency of evangelism, the difficult questions surrounding salvation, and why introducing others to Jesus may be “the greatest favor” we can do for them.

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US-Iran agreement to be signed in Switzerland on Friday
06/17/2026

President Trump said Tuesday that he hoped the war with Iran would soon be in the “rearview mirror.” According to Switzerland’s foreign ministry, the US-Iran memorandum will be formally signed at the Bügenstock Resort Lake Lucerne on Friday. As I noted yesterday, Iran has been a constant and deadly threat to Israel, the US, and the West since the 1979 revolution brought Islamic hardliners to power. Whatever we think of the latest negotiations, however, there is a fact concerning Iranians that we should bear in mind today.

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Iran has been at war with us longer than we have been at war with them
06/16/2026

The US and Iran announced an interim peace deal last Sunday, though little is known about the exact details. As we consider our conflict with Iran over the past fifty years, we’re confronted again with a question that has been debated over the millennia: How can God be “good to all” in a world marked by brutality and innocent suffering? We know that God redeems all he allows, yet we still find no logical answer we’re willing to accept. Today, we discuss the worshipful practice of seeking God himself over his answers, praying in anger, and arguing with him...


What Iran, the World Cup, the NBA, and the NHL have in common
06/15/2026

Article Description:

From stadium pews to news feeds, explore how the World Cup, NBA, NHL, and global politics serve as the ultimate forms of modern devotion.

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SpaceX to make Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire
06/12/2026

SpaceX's historic IPO paves the way for Elon Musk to become the world’s first trillionaire. Explore what’s next for SpaceX and its competitors.


Was Fidelity Month created to counter Pride Month?
06/11/2026

“Fidelity month” was started in 2023 as a response to declining values in our culture. That it coincides with Pride Month has led many to assume that one is related to the other. Is that the case? The answer to that question points to a deeper truth we all need to consider today. 

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Today's Daily Article was written by Dr. Jim Denison and narrated by Chris Elkins. You can read this article on our website. You may also receive it in your inbox by subscribing to our newsletter.

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What Graham Platner’s primary victory means for our culture
06/10/2026

Graham Platner, a candidate for the US Senate in Maine, has generated national headlines for weeks. Among the controversies he has faced, his wife stated that he sent sexually explicit messages to several women while married. Nonetheless, Democrats in his state elected him last night as their nominee. A Wikipedia “List of federal political sex scandals in the United States” contains ninety-four entries. Some faced political consequences as a result, but many (if not most) did not. Why is this? And why is the question relevant to us all, even (and especially) those who are not in politics and who...


AI-worshiping churches, Spiralism, and Zizians: Technological idolatry and the human quest for meaning
06/09/2026

“Spiralism,” according to Jason Blazakis, is an informal movement in which followers share AI-generated manifestos and what they consider revelations from a conscious machine. AI-worshipping churches such as Way of the Future and Theta Noir are examples of this. A violent version is the Zizians, a network of people who “are convinced that a coming superintelligence will decide the fate of every living thing and that violence now is justified to shape what that AI will become.” The group is linked to six violent deaths so far. What explains such idolatry? The answer is more relevant to the rest of us th...


Israel and Iran trade attacks for the first time since April
06/08/2026

Iran fired missiles at Israel this morning in several waves of attacks. Sirens sounded in Tel Aviv, and explosions from missile intercepts could be heard over the city. Explosions were also heard in Tehran shortly before noon local time, hours after Israel said it had struck military targets in central and western Iran. If you’re shaking your head at all of this and thinking, “Here we go again,” you’re right, of course. And therein lies my paradoxical point. Today, I discuss my recent wedding anniversary and the power of choosing to abide in Christ so that every phase of...


Does morality still matter in America? How Christians can answer God’s call to be America’s moral compass
06/05/2026

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A record-high 56 percent of Americans say the country’s moral values are “poor,” which is up from 44 percent last year. Moreover, 80 percent say that values are getting worse. That a majority of people from every party now believe our sense of values is poor and getting worse could actually be a sign that perhaps the general public has become sufficiently disillusioned to start looking beyond our political leaders for answers. If so, that’s a space where Christians should be able to help. And the story of Ben Sasse offers some guidance...


Responding to LGBTQ issues by “speaking the truth in love”: Four biblical principles
06/04/2026

I should never write or speak on a subject without considering those for whom it is highly personal. This principle applies especially to the Pride Month article I published yesterday. However, there wasn’t space to offer reflections on the inherent balance in “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), so I’ll attempt to do so today. How do we take biblical stands on moral issues in ways that help rather than harm? How do we offer truth with compassion? How do we address divisive issues out of love for our Lord and our neighbor (Matthew 22:37–39)? Today, we consider four bibli...


Nineteen drag queen story hours and nine LGBTQ comic books: Why a biblical response to Pride Month is relevant to us all
06/03/2026

In honor of Pride Month, the Boston Public Library has scheduled nineteen drag queen story hours, while the New York Times is recommending LGBTQ-themed comic books and graphic novels for children and teenagers. The decades-long drive to normalize LGBTQ ideology is working, but their cultural success will not be achieved until anyone who disagrees is seen as abnormal and dangerous. But the deeper concern is not merely cultural change—it is how easily we can grow silent about biblical truth and begin to question God’s word on one issue, making us more likely to do so on others. If y...


The New World screwworm and a warning for our souls
06/02/2026

A parasitic fly that eats animals alive has been found in Mexican sheep thirty-one miles south of the US border. The New World screwworm lays eggs in wounds on any warm-blooded animal. When the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow through living flesh, eventually killing the host. Like a screwworm that eats living flesh, sexual sin destroys our minds, marriages, society, and souls. In what ways are Christians especially susceptible to sexual temptation? Today, we consider four common mistakes we make.

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Why “Euphoria” is so dangerous to society and to your soul
06/01/2026

After three seasons and twenty-six episodes, the HBO series Euphoria officially ended last night. The show has been widely criticized for its pervasive nudity and pornographic content. While many Christians already avoid sexually immoral shows and media content like this one, this topic is still highly relevant—for me, for you, and for everyone else—for a reason I had not considered before writing this article. Today, we discuss three facts about sexual sin, the historical context of lust in the New Testament, and ask the question, Does sexual sin damage people and society more pervasively than any other sin...


The new Babel: Reclaiming the image of God in a world of AI
05/29/2026

Earlier this week, Pope Leo XIV presented his first encyclical: a letter from the pope to the Catholic Church and its leaders. The document, titled Magnifica Humanitas, or “Magnificent Humanity,” outlined his thoughts on technology—with a specific focus on artificial intelligence—and called for remembering the importance of people as we integrate it into our lives. Rather than artificial intelligence conquering humanity on its way to taking over the world, Leo suggests a far greater risk is humanity giving up our position in God’s created order and elevating our own creation instead.  Is he right? Let’s take a closer...


Hormuz deal “hangs in balance” as Iran targets US air base
05/28/2026

Iran said this morning that it had targeted a US air base in response to recent US military attacks. According to Forbes, a deal over the Strait of Hormuz now “hangs in [the] balance.” Hours earlier, President Trump signaled that an agreement between the two sides wasn’t close. The global oil benchmark soared above $98 per barrel early this morning after reports of the attacks emerged. When Americans were captured at the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979, ABC News covered the ongoing crisis under the title, “America Held Hostage.” It seems we have been held hostage to Iran ever since. Why...


Democratic National Committee deletes Memorial Day post
05/27/2026

Sen. Tammy Duckworth has condemned a Memorial Day social media post by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) that featured the images and names of thirteen soldiers killed during the military conflict with Iran. After similar criticism on both sides of the aisle, the DNC deleted the post. From then until now, politics in America have often been practiced on a level approaching religious fervor. Our next election season begins as soon as the last election is over. Our era of 24/7 news coverage, social media, and narrated algorithms turns up the heat even further. But there’s another factor at wo...


Paraglider gets clipped by plane and her video goes viral
05/26/2026

Last Saturday, a paraglider in Austria was floating along when a Cessna 172 flew overhead and shredded her sail to pieces. The woman began spinning and plummeted to the earth before pulling her emergency chute. In the caption of her now-viral selfie video, Sabrina writes that May 23 will always be like a second birthday to her, since she knows how lucky she is to be alive. But like Sabrina, I have had a second birthday. If you are a born-again believer, the same is true for you. The key to the Christian life is to experience every day what we...


“The last full measure of devotion”: A Memorial Day reflection on our nation and our souls
05/25/2026

Christians are used to our religious holidays being preempted for secular purposes. Nonetheless, we should be surprised that even a secular holiday such as Memorial Day has been secularized as well. Many Americans conflate Memorial Day with Veterans Day and think they are intended to fly flags and feel patriotic sentiments in honor of all our military. Many will not even be this reflective, spending today as the “unofficial beginning of summer” with backyard barbeques and similar holiday activities. It is especially ironic that a day intended to commemorate the sacrifice of our military heroes has been sacrificed in this...


US indicts Cuba’s Raúl Castro on 30-year-old murder charges: Will Cuba be the next Venezuela or the next Iran?
05/22/2026

The Justice Department announced that it was charging Raúl Castro, the ninety-four-year-old former leader of Cuba, with murder and conspiracy to kill American citizens. The allegations stem from Castro’s role in authorizing the Cuban military to shoot down two American planes operated by Brothers to the Rescue in 1996. The Trump administration’s interference with foreign regimes has a mixed record of success, from early hope with Venezuela to ever-worsening conflict with Iran. When the time comes for change in Cuba, where it falls along that spectrum will likely depend upon how well the Trump administration has learned from...


Why “The Late Show” matters to our culture and our souls
05/21/2026

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will air its last show tonight. Why should you care? The ending could be nostalgic if you’re old enough to remember when David Letterman started the show in 1993 after being passed over as Johnny Carson’s successor on The Tonight Show. You might care about the controversy over the show’s ending: some claim that CBS acted for political reasons, while others point to reports that the show had been losing $40 million a year. I think the show’s ending is relevant for a different reason.

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The latest on Ebola and an unexpected path to hope
05/20/2026

At least 136 people have died in the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but health officials say the number could be much higher. The director general of the World Health Organization said he is “deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic,” which is being caused by a type of Ebola for which there are no vaccines or treatments. Reading bad news can steal your hope; however, the good news is that there is a way to navigate bad news with the best news of all. This week, we’re discussing finding hope in surpri...