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October 27, 2023

Just-installed House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is making clear he is “a Bible-believing Christian.”

During an interview Thursday evening with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Johnson said he has been asked by members of the media for his positions on myriad issues. In response, he has told them to turn to Scripture to truly understand his perspective on the matters of the day.

“Someone asked me today in the media, they said, Its curious, people are curious: what does Mike Johnson think about any issue under the sun?’” he explained. “I said, Well, go pick up a Bible off your shelf and read it thats my worldview. Thats what I believe, and so I make no apologies for it.” During his wide-ranging conversation with Hannity, Johnson revealed the ways his faith informs his actions as a politician including in how he carried himself during his meeting with President Joe Biden.

“It was cordial and pleasant,” the speaker said of their time together. “I have no problem with President Biden as an individual. You respect the office; it’s a biblical admonition that you give honor where honor is due, and that’s the respect you have for the office. But he and I agree on almost no policy.”

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The conversation then turned to some of Johnson’s past comments on homosexuality and his decision to hold to the scriptural view that marriage is a holy institution between one man and one woman for life.

“I genuinely love all people, regardless of their lifestyle choices,” Johnson said. “This is not about the people themselves. I am a Bible-believing Christian.”

He continued, “Everybody comes to the House of Representatives with deep personal convictions, but our deep personal convictions are not going to become law. This is a big body of people there’s 435 members in the House. You have to argue and find consensus and all that. So, I have no agenda other than what’s best for the American people and to defend the rule of law, and that’s what we’re doing.”

Since his ascension to House speaker, Johnson has put his faith centerstage.

The Louisiana lawmaker brought his Bible with him to his first speech as speaker. During his address before his legislative peers, he told his fellow congressmen and women he believes they are all called by God and ordained to hold the positions they hold at the time in which they hold them.

“I don’t believe there are any coincidences in a matter like this,” he said. “I believe that Scripture the Bible is very clear, that God is the one that raises up those in authority. He raised up each of you, all of us, and I believe that God has ordained and allowed each one of us to be brought here for this specific moment, in this time. This is my belief.”

“I believe that each one of us has a huge responsibility today to use the gifts that God has given us to serve the extraordinary people of this great country and they deserve it,” the lawmaker continued. “And to ensure that our republic remains standing as the great beacon of light and hope and freedom in a world that desperately needs it.”

Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA): "Scripture, the Bible, is very clear: God is the one that raises up those in authority. All of us … [Marxism and Communism] begin with the premise that there is no God." pic.twitter.com/VCh4kKHdQC— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) October 25, 2023

Back in January, when the Republicans were struggling  much like they did this fall to find a House speaker, Johnson was one of a handful of conservative lawmakers who met to pray for God’s intervention after Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) failed numerous times to secure the votes he needed to take on the leadership role in the House of Representatives.

Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) posted a photo earlier this week of Johnson and a small group of Republicans who prayed before McCarthy successfully  and finally  earned enough votes to become speaker.

“In January,” Steube wrote, “Congressman Mike Johnson joined me on the House floor while we were in a deadlock over who our next Speaker would be. We lifted up the speakers race to the Lord and asked for his divine guidance. Immediately after the prayer, 14 members changed their votes, ultimately leading to Speaker McCarthy securing the gavel by the end of the day.”

The Florida legislator went on to describe Johnson as “a strong conservative” and “a strong Christian.”

“Hes not afraid to look to his faith for guidance,” Steube added. “America needs that more than ever in the U.S. House.”

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Politics

Scotland’s former first minister Humza Yousaf hits out at Starmer’s ‘dog whistle’ stance on immigration

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Scotland's former first minister Humza Yousaf hits out at Starmer's 'dog whistle' stance on immigration

Former Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf has attacked Sir Keir Starmer for his “dog whistle” stance on immigration after the prime minister said the UK risked becoming an “island of strangers”.

In a piece penned by Mr Yousaf for LBC, the former leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) repeated claims the prime minister’s recent remarks on immigration were a “modern echo” of Enoch Powell’s infamous 1968 Rivers Of Blood speech.

The prime minister stirred controversy earlier this week when he argued Britain “risked becoming an island of strangers” if immigration levels were not cut.

After many MPs criticised his language, Sir Keir rejected the comparison to Powell, with his official spokesperson saying migrants have made a “massive contribution” to society but his point was that the Tories “lost control of the system”.

First Minister Humza Yousaf speaks during a press conference at Bute House, his official residence in Edinburgh where he said he will resign as SNP leader and Scotland's First Minister, avoiding having to face a no confidence vote in his leadership. Mr Yousaf's premiership has been hanging by a thread since he ended the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens last week. Picture date: Monday April 29, 2024.
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File pic: PA

In the LBC piece published on Saturday, Mr Yousaf said: “Powell’s 1968 speech warned of immigration as an existential threat to ‘our blood and our culture’, stoking racial panic that led directly to decades of hostile migration policies.

“Starmer’s invocation of ‘strangers’ is a modern echo – a dog-whistle to voters who blame migrants for every social ill, from stretched public services to the cost-of-living crisis.

“It betrays a failure to understand, or deliberately mask the fact that Britain’s prosperity depends on migration, on openness not building walls.”

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Sir Keir made the comments at a news conference in which measures were announced to curb net migration, including banning care homes from recruiting overseas, new English language requirements for visa holders and stricter rules on gaining British citizenship.

The package is aimed at reducing the number of people coming to the UK by up to 100,000 per year, though the government has not officially set a target.

The government is under pressure to tackle legal migration, as well as illegal immigration, amid Reform UK’s surge in the polls.

Mr Yousaf concluded his article saying the UK was “on the brink of possibly handing the keys of No 10 to Nigel Farage”.

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UK

Man arrested at Luton Airport in connection with fires at properties linked to Sir Keir Starmer

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Man arrested at Luton Airport in connection with fires at properties linked to Sir Keir Starmer

A second man has been arrested in connection with fires at two properties and a car linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The 26-year-old was arrested around 1.45pm at Luton Airport on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.

The arrest was made by counter terrorism officers. The man has been taken into police custody in London.

It comes after a Ukrainian man, 21, was charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.

Roman Lavrynovych appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday and was remanded in custody.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command led the investigation because of the connections to the prime minister.

Emergency services were called to a fire in the early hours of Monday at a house in Kentish Town, north London, where Sir Keir lived with his family before the election.

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Damage was caused to the property’s entrance, but nobody was hurt.

A car was also set alight in the same street last Thursday.

There was another blaze at the front door of a house converted into flats in Islington, also linked to the prime minister, on Sunday.

One person was taken to safety via an internal staircase by crews wearing breathing apparatus.

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Sports

Yankees RHP Cousins has setback with pec issue

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Yankees RHP Cousins has setback with pec issue

NEW YORK — Yankees reliever Jake Cousins felt pectoral discomfort after throwing a pair of batting practice sessions, another setback in his bid to return to the mound for the first time since last fall.

Cousins won’t throw again for four or five days, manager Aaron Boone said Saturday.

Boone said ahead of spring training’s opening workout that Cousins had a strained right forearm and was uncertain for the March 27 opener.

A 30-year-old right-hander, Cousins threw batting practice to injured slugger Giancarlo Stanton on May 6. Boone said Cousins pitched an additional session before the pec issue caused a shutdown.

“We don’t think it’s anything serious, but enough to hold him back a few days,” Boone said.

Boone said Cousins had tests and that they didn’t show any shoulder issues.

Cousins had a 2.37 ERA in 37 relief appearances last year, striking out 53 and walking 20 in 38 innings.

Boone said a date has not been set for Stanton to start a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment. The five-time All-Star has been sidelined since spring training with pain in the tendons of both elbows.

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