Polygamy, Prediction Markets, and Protections for Religious Freedom: Here’s a Look Back at the Week

Here’s a quick recap of the week’s top stories from Family Council and our friends:

From Family Council

The 2026 Arkansas Voter’s Guide is Almost Here! Our team plans to begin shipping printed copies of the guide next week. If you have not already done so, you can pre-order your free copies of the guide here.

These Laws Helped Make Arkansas Number-One in Religious Liberty. In 2021, Arkansas passed Act 462 protecting rights of conscience for doctors, nurses, physician assistants, and other healthcare workers in Arkansas… Keep Reading.

Seattle City Council Unanimously Votes to Recognize Polyamory, Expand Definition of “Sexual Orientation.” In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down state marriage laws nationwide with its Obergefell v. Hodges ruling. The decision effectively legalized same-sex marriage across the country. But it also unintentionally opened the door to polygamy and polyamory. Keep Reading.

“Prediction Market” Gambling Platforms Finally Face Scrutiny in Court. Prediction markets are companies that exploit loopholes in federal law to bring casino-style gambling to anyone with a smartphone. While traditional gambling operates under state oversight and state law, prediction market platforms claim protection under federal commodities laws. But instead of letting people invest in futures for gold or crude oil, companies like Kalshi and Polymarket let people “invest” in the future outcome of a ballgame, tomorrow’s weather, foreign policy, and so on. Keep Reading.

Study Reminds Us How Sports Betting Corrupts College Athletics. Sports betting is legal in 39 states — including Arkansas, where people wager an average of $2.5 million on sports every single day. But a study published in the Journal of Gambling Studies this summer found student-athletes are wagering on fantasy sports betting, parlay bets, live in-game betting, and prop bets — nearly all of it conducted through mobile phones and online gambling apps. Keep Reading.

Nike Loses $200 Billion in “Woke Wipeout.” Yahoo Finance reports the iconic sportswear brand Nike has lost $200 billion in market value since 2021. Financial experts point to poor sales performance domestically and internationally, but our friends at The Washington Stand ultimately trace it back to Nike’s political activism, calling the company’s financial turn a “$200 billion woke wipeout.” Keep Reading.

The Power of Naming: Guest Column. Words shape how we understand reality, but they cannot redefine it. Scripture explains both the remarkable power and important limits of naming. Keep Reading.

EPA to Test for Abortion Drugs in Drinking Water. On September 9, the EPA announced that a new scientific study that would check for a large number of contaminants in drinking water — including the abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol. Keep Reading.

Obamacare Abortion Report Shows Importance of a Law Arkansas Passed in 2013. Last week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report showing insurance companies pay for abortions in a number of states under Obamacare. The report underscores the importance of a good, pro-life law that Arkansas passed in 2013. Keep Reading.

Medical Committee Says There Was “No Reasonable Alternative” but Euthanasia for Dutch Toddler. A medical review committee in the Netherlands says there was “no reasonable alternative” but euthanasia for a two-year-old child — even though the child did not have a terminal illness — and determined that the physician who euthanized the child “acted with due care.” Keep Reading.

From Our Friends

“They’re Going to Kill Me?” Canadian Family Demands Answers After Grandma Euthanized. From LifeNews.

WA Teenage Wrestler, Her Mom Ask 9th Circuit to Protect Girls’ Sports, Parental Rights. From Alliance Defending Freedom.

Embryos Aren’t Property. From Breakpoint.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.