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

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is weekly-rewind-banner-corrected-1024x165.png

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.

From Zombie Arguments to Prioritizing Prayer, Here is a Look Back at the Week

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is weekly-rewind-banner-corrected-1024x165.png

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

From Family Council

Colorado Hedging its Bets in the Wake of Sports Gambling Problems. Nationwide, sports betting is legal in 39 states — including Arkansas, where people are on track to wager nearly a billion dollars this year on sports betting alone. But a growing body of evidence shows this type of gambling is causing serious financial harm. Keep Reading.

ADF: “There’s No Way for a State to Protect Life” if Doctors Can Mail Illegal Abortion Drugs. Last week, Alliance Defending Freedom Of Counsel Erin Hawley told Morning Wire there is “no way for a state to protect life if a doctor from New York or California can simply mail an illegal [abortion] drug to someone’s doorstep.” Keep Reading.

Kentucky Man Indicted for Secretly Swapping Girlfriend’s Medication With Abortion Drug. Abdullah Mohmand, 27, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of attempting to kill her unborn child. Keep Reading.

The Population Zombie Strikes Again: Guest Column. A group of scientists are, once again, predicting imminent disaster because of overpopulation. Keep Reading.

Company Offers Assisted Suicide in NY for $12K. Late last year, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced an agreement to enact legislation letting healthcare professionals prescribe lethal drugs via so-called “Medical Aid in Dying.” New York’s Medical Aid in Dying Act officially took effect on August 5. That same day, a new company called Quiĕtus began offering assisted suicide in New York. Moneywise and Yahoo Finance write: Keep Reading.

Marijuana Edibles “a Growing Danger” for Kids: CNN. Nationwide, policymakers have legalized marijuana to varying degrees, and federal regulators have eased restrictions on the drug. But pundits continue to raise concerns about legalization’s unintended consequences — especially when it comes to children. Keep Reading.

Family Council Joins Brief Asking Supreme Court to Protect Prayer Meetings in Homes. Last week, Family Council joined 55 other conservative, pro-family leaders in an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the right to host prayer meetings at home. Keep Reading.

Augustine: The Philosopher Who Solved Anxiety. More and more young people today suffer from anxiety, depression, or loneliness. But it turns out this isn’t a new problem. Sixteen hundred years ago, a restless university student named Augustine suffered the same maladies. This young man, who would become one of history’s most famous philosophers, found a solution. It still works today. Owen Anderson, Arizona State professor of philosophy and religious studies, tells the story. Keep Reading.

From Our Friends

Netherlands Review Board Says Euthanasia of 2-Year-Old Was Perfectly Fine. From LifeNews.

Massachusetts Family Fights for Custody of ‘Trans’ Daughter. From Daily Citizen.

The Baby-Purchasing Business Continues To Be An Unmitigated Disaster For Everyone Involved. From The Federalist.

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

Courtroom Conflict, a Billion in Bets, and More This Week

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is weekly-rewind-banner-corrected-1024x165.png

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

From Family Council

Family Council Joins Amicus Brief Defending Parental Rights Before 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The brief argues that “the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children is essential to liberty and is deeply rooted in American tradition and practice,” and that schools undermine parental rights when they deceive parents about a child’s gender dysphoria or social transition at school. Keep Reading.

Louisiana Still Waging Legal Battle Over Abortion Drugs in Federal Court. The State of Louisiana and our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom are waging an ongoing legal battle over the abortion drug mifepristone in federal court. Keep Reading.

U.S. Issues Sanctions Against Foreign Organization that Aided Violent Pro-Abortion Group “Jane’s Revenge.” On August 26, the U.S. Department of State designated Autistici/Inventati (A/I Collective) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Keep Reading.

Founder of “Have My Baby in Miami” Pleads the Fifth During Congressional Inquiry into Birth Tourism. On September 1, the House Oversight Committee’s Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Institutional Abuses conducted a hearing regarding birth tourism. During the hearing, Task Force Chairman Brandon Gill (R-Texas) asked Dr. Wladimir Lorentz, founder of Have My Baby in Miami, whether his business facilitated birth tourism. Dr. Lorentz pled the Fifth in response to the questions. Keep Reading.

Arkansans On Track to Wager Almost $1 Billion on Sports This Year. The figure does not take into account “prediction market” wagers on sports or illegal sports betting. Keep Reading.

Antisemitism on the Rise, Again: Guest Column. According to a new report from the J7 Large Communities’ Task Force Against Antisemitism, “In both the number of lethal attacks and the number of casualties, 2025 was the deadliest year for antisemitic attacks . . . in more than 30 years.” Keep Reading.

Courageous Culture Building in a World of Desecration. Walking the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland I saw a long line of historic buildings and cobblestone streets that millions traverse every year. As my group walked along the historic alleyways and the famous Royal Mile, rainbow flags came into view. Keep Reading.

Temu Denies Allegations That It Engaged in Deceptive Trade. Temu is an online shopping platform similar to Amazon or Walmart.com. In 2023, Temu was reported to be the most widely downloaded app in the U.S., and its multibillion-dollar marketing campaign — which included a Super Bowl ad in 2024 — contributed to its success. But Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin sued Temu in 2024, alleging Temu uses bargain pricing as a lure so the company can secretly harvest users’ private information. Keep Reading.

From Our Friends

Melissa McKay Protects Kids, Restores Parents’ Rights Through ‘App Store Accountability Act.’ From Daily Citizen.

Will We Also Speak the Truth? Remembering Charlie Kirk one year later. From Them Before Us.

McKenna West Asks Supreme Court to Let Her Fight for Baby Gabriel’s Care. From LifeNews.

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