Thursday’s News & Ideas - 2/12/2026

For these clergy, Trump’s immigration blitz became a call to action*
The Washington Post: Jewish leaders at a D.C. conference learned how to take on more prominent roles protesting ICE operations in their communities.
Religion News Service: 140 rabbis train in Washington on how to resist authoritarian governments, ICE

White Christian support for Trump falls but still tops that of Americans overall
Religion News Service: A new Pew Research survey found that Trump’s approval ratings have dropped among major religious groups. But white Christians support the president more than other Americans.

Epstein files reveal ties to Catholic conservatives’ anti-Francis campaign
Religion News Service: The newly released Epstein files show that Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon discussed opposition to Pope Francis, including a move that Bannon claimed would “take down Francis.”

Israeli strikes kill 3 people in Gaza, hospital says
The Associated Press: Israeli military strikes on Monday killed three people west of Gaza City, according to the hospital where the casualties arrived.

Immigration attorneys in New York navigate the unknown
Documented: In a year of unprecedented challenges, the city’s attorneys are advising clients amid a shifting legal landscape, and an immigration court backlog of 334,000 cases.

The Spark

America isn’t ready for what AI will do to jobs
Does anyone have a plan for what happens next?* The Atlantic asks.

*access is limited for nonsubscribers