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Good afternoon. This week Pope Leo released a blockbuster new treatise on AI and my colleague Josiah published a must-read essay. And here in D.C., workers are finalizing a giant new arena on the lawn of the White House, where, in a few weeks, the president will host a cage fight to celebrate 250 years of America. Which brings me to the latest issue of Sojourners…

Well, aren’t we special?

As the nation prepares to mark two-and-a-half centuries since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, many of the planned festivities are shaping up to be what Kenji Kuramitsu calls “a fusion of Christian nationalism with Roman-style gladiatorial entertainment.” Our June issue zeroes in on the myriad ways Christians are pushing back with truth and justice, including Kenji’s feature story, which offers tough love and gospel truth about the ongoing lure of American exceptionalism.

Good News for U.S. Christians: We Aren’t Special

It’s liberating to let go of hubris. By Kenji Kuramitsu

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I’m a bit biased, but…

…if I can persuade you to read one piece this week, make it this essay from Sojourners senior associate opinion editor Josiah R. Daniels. In a world where news about Palestine is so often reduced to quick takes and news flashes, Josiah offers something different: a vulnerable story about how his friendships “over there” in Palestine changed the way he’s living here in the U.S.

What I Witnessed in Palestine Made Me Think About My Gun

What’s happening in Palestine is a crisis. My friend Omar, a Palestinian activist and theologian, helped me see that it’s also a mirror. By Josiah R. Daniels

AI for the common good

This week the biggest news in artificial intelligence wasn’t a new trillion-dollar deal out of Silicon Valley, but a roughly 200,000-word document from the Vatican. In Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo argues not against abolishing AI, but rather intervening in its development to ensure it keeps the dignity of humans—not just the wealth of an elite few—at the forefront. Don’t want to read all 200,000 words? This 1,200-word piece from Nathan Schneider has you covered.

AI Is the New Gilded Age. Pope Leo Has a Plan

Pope Leo XIV is comparing AI to the Industrial Revolution as new alternatives to big AI firms take shape. By Nathan Schneider

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Action Alert: End the Blockade Against Cuba

Join us now to contact Congress and demand an end to hostilities against Cuba. In this moment, we must follow the best traditions of our faith and extend our hand to Cuba in love and charity. Demand that we start true diplomatic talks paired with natural disaster aid for the island while respecting the Cuban people’s right to determine their own government.

Action Alert: No War With Iran!

Contact Congress now to demand peace and an end to the war with Iran. As Christians, we know that each and every life is precious and every step must be taken to avoid bloodshed. Instead of recklessly pursuing a policy of escalation, we demand an end to violence and vigorous oversight from Congress in pursuit of peace.