“The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts.”
—C.S. Lewis, “The Abolition of Man”
Good morning! Today, we’re covering Ten Commandments in Texas, China flooding Brazil with cheap EVs, and Starbucks signals support for RFK Jr.’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ agenda.
Hours after the June 21 bombing, Trump administration officials signaled a willingness to renew talks with Iran and avoid a prolonged war in the Middle East.
Texas Gov Signs Bill Requiring Ten Commandments in Public School ClassroomsTexas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law that would require all public school classrooms in his state to display the biblical Ten Commandments. The law, which goes into effect on Sept. 1, requires classrooms to display a poster or framed English translation of the commandments that is at least 16-by-20 inches and is able to be read from anywhere in the classroom.
Texas has more than 5.5 million students throughout its more than 9,000 public schools.
Supporters of the legislation say the Ten Commandments are a key part of the foundation of the United States’ judicial and educational systems and should be displayed. Opponents, including some Christian and other faith leaders, say the Ten Commandments and prayer measures infringe on others’ religious freedom. (More)
Starbucks Signals Support for RFK Jr.’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ AgendaStarbucks appears to be getting a MAHA-over. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says the coffee giant is taking steps to further align its menu with his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative—a campaign aimed at eliminating artificial ingredients from the U.S. food supply.
Kennedy praised Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol after a private meeting, noting that the company already avoids artificial dyes, flavors, high-fructose corn syrup, and synthetic sweeteners—and plans to go even further. Starbucks confirmed its commitment to ingredient transparency, saying its menu empowers customers to make informed nutritional choices.
The meeting comes as Kennedy continues working behind the scenes with major food industry leaders—from PepsiCo to Kraft Heinz—urging them to reformulate products and phase out artificial dyes.
Click to read how Starbucks is becoming a little more MAHA—one latte at a time.
Cheap Chinese EVs Flooding Brazil Raise ConcernsAs Brazil has become one of the most important target markets for China’s automakers seeking to manage their electric vehicle (EV) overcapacity, local auto industry and labor associations have expressed growing concerns over the impact of the flood of cheap Chinese cars.
China’s largest EV and plug-in hybrid car company, BYD, has shipped four batches of its products to Brazil so far this year, totaling about 22,000 vehicles. The import of complete vehicles from China to Brazil will increase by nearly 40 percent to 200,000 vehicles in 2025, accounting for about 8 percent of the country’s light vehicle registrations, according to Brazil’s main auto association.
Brazil waived tariffs on BYD and other manufacturers in 2015 to promote EVs. In order to draw investment and develop Brazil’s domestic auto industry, in 2024 the Brazilian government restored the 10 percent tariff on foreign EVs and has planned to increase it every six months so it will reach 35 percent by 2026. Brazil’s auto industry and labor groups are concerned that Chinese automakers are taking advantage of the window before the import tariffs are fully raised to dump vehicles in large quantities, rather than investing in building factories in Brazil and creating jobs for local communities. (More)
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