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US support for Israel slips as Democrats grow more critical, AP-NORC poll finds After decades of reliable bipartisan backing for Israel, a new AP-NORC poll reveals a dramatic erosion of support for the longtime U.S. ally, with rising opposition from Democrats and signs of division among Republicans. About one in three U.S. adults — including roughly half of Democrats — believe that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians during the war in Gaza. It’s an accusation that’s been leveled by some human rights organizations and vehemently denied by Israel and the United States government. Read more. Why this matters: About 58% of Democrats now say the U.S. is “too supportive” of the Israelis, up from 45% in an AP-NORC poll from January 2024 when former President Joe Biden was in office. That includes 51% of Jewish Democrats in the new poll. Only about 2 in 10 Republicans say that the United States is “too supportive” of the Israelis, although Republicans under 45 are more likely to say this. The poll’s findings arrive at a moment when a once-consensus foreign policy issue is increasingly polarizing Americans along partisan and generational lines, driven by criticism for Israel’s conduct nearly three years after the outbreak of its latest war with Hamas in Gaza.

Democrats begin pulling Graham Platner endorsements after sexual assault allegation A woman who previously dated Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner said he drunkenly forced her to have sex after she told him to stop, according to a Politico report released Monday. Read more. What to know: Platner denied the allegation, but said he would be considering next steps for his campaign. “Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we’re taking the time to reflect on the best path forward,” he said in a video released on social media. Platner won the Democratic nomination last month, setting himself up to face Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who has beaten back previous attempts to dislodge her from the seat that she’s held for nearly three decades. Although Platner has long been controversial, the sexual allegation sparked a flight away from the candidate, including prominent supporters, throwing a must-win race for Democrats into turmoil.

Microsoft cuts Microsoft says it is eliminating about 4,800 jobs — or about 2.1% of the company’s global workforce — with its Xbox gaming unit among the hardest hit. The job cuts come as Microsoft faces pressure to establish itself as a major player in artificial intelligence, while companies like Anthropic and OpenAI are increasingly tailoring their AI tools for business use and productivity. Read more.

July 7, 2026 By Sam Sifton Good morning. The United States is out of the World Cup, routed by Belgium 4-1. The NATO summit is getting underway in Turkey. And calls are mounting for Graham Platner, a Democrat from Maine, to end his Senate campaign after a sexual assault allegation. But before we get to those stories, and other news, let’s check in on Venezuela, which is still recovering from last month’s terrible earthquakes. In Venezuela. Adriana Loureiro Fernandez for The New York Times Caribbean disparity The United States funneled more than $3 billion in aid to Haiti in 2010, after a devastating earthquake left the country in shambles. It sent in 7,000 military troops to help and stopped deportations of Haitians. That’s not what has happened in Venezuela, which was shattered by two earthquakes late last month. The Trump administration has taken an estimated $8 billion in revenues from the country’s oil exports since removing its leader, Nicolás Maduro, in January. Yet the United States has thus far put up just $300 million in earthquake aid and sent a more modest military deployment, about 900 troops. And it hasn’t announced a halt to deportations. My colleague Simon Romero has covered both countries for years. He was one of the first reporters on the ground in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, in 2010. Yesterday, he wrote a fascinating story comparing the U.S. response to the earthquakes in both countries while exploring the haunting parallels between the two events: “Pancaked multistory concrete buildings, bodies flooding into overwhelmed morgues, survivors disparaging government responses, and civilians leading desperate rescues of people trapped in the rubble.” I turned to him to help us understand what’s happening in Venezuela now, and what happened in Haiti in 2010. Sam: What explains the discrepancy between the U.S. responses to these two natural disasters? Simon: At first glance, there are major differences between the two tragedies. Venezuela, despite its severe economic crash a decade ago, is still not as poor as Haiti. The death toll in Venezuela also appears to be lower — though that could change as more bodies are recovered. Venezuela also has oil — something Haiti does not have. But the U.S. approach to foreign aid has also changed immensely under the Trump administration. Aid to many poor countries, some in humanitarian crises, has been slashed. U.S.A.I.D. has been gutted. Still, the Haiti relief effort led many people to conclude that bigger isn’t always better. Giant though it was — and it did save lives immediately after the 2010 earthquake — it did not ultimately place Haiti on a stronger footing. Haiti’s government was able to limp by without doing the reforms needed to actually make it accountable to Haiti’s people. A U.S. Navy helicopter landing in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 2010. Michael Appleton for The New York Times I always read the comments on stories. One question readers have on this one is about what’s happened to the billions in Venezuelan oil revenue that the United States says it oversees. Like, where is it? There is very little transparency regarding Venezuela’s oil revenues. At first, some funds flowed into an account in Qatar. Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified in January that about $300 million from that account was disbursed to Venezuela; in February, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said $500 million was sent to Venezuela. Then the United States began depositing money from Venezuela’s oil exports into U.S. Treasury accounts. In April, a State Department official told Congress that the department had authorized $3 billion from these accounts to go to Venezuela — but the official said he did not know how much money remained in the Treasury accounts. It is also unclear who in the U.S. government exercises control over these accounts. The expectation is that the oil revenue will be used to rebuild, though we don’t know for sure. The government already faced huge challenges just to stabilize and grow the economy before the earthquakes. You were one of the first reporters to see, up close, the effects of the earthquake in Haiti. And you’ve reported from Venezuela for years. Can you give us a sense of what may lie ahead for Venezuela? The recovery and rebuilding efforts in Venezuela will take years. It will be extremely challenging. There are the issues of funding, but there’s also the issue of whether Venezuela’s government is up to the task. Venezuela still has authoritarian rule, and those in power do not face the same scrutiny from public institutions, the news media or nongovernmental organizations that public officials in democratic systems do. Alarmingly, after the quakes, images circulated on social media of Venezuelan security forces taking cash from collapsed buildings. This speaks to the fears that any aid could be siphoned off by corrupt officials. There just isn’t a great deal of trust in a government that has imprisoned political opponents and refused to accept election results. Read Simon’s story here. (We’ve made it free for you to read, along with some other stories in today’s newsletter.) For more: Several factors — the direction, the depth, the softness of the soil — combined to make the Venezuela quakes especially dangerous, as these maps show. THE LATEST NEWS Graham Platner Graham Platner Sophie Park for The New York Times A former girlfriend told Politico that Platner, the Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, entered her house while drunk and sexually assaulted her in 2021. Platner said the accusation was false. But he postponed several campaign events and said he was taking time to “reflect” on his path forward. Democratic leaders and key supporters have called on him to leave the race. The woman who accused Platner previously spoke to The Times about troubling behavior during their two-year relationship. Democrats can replace Platner on the ballot if he withdraws by Monday. The party would have until July 27 to name his replacement. NATO The New York Times NATO’s annual summit begins today in Turkey, and the alliance’s relationship with the United States is expected to dominate the talks. In the video above, Tyler Pager, a White House correspondent, explains the stakes of the meeting. Click to play. Canada said it chose two European allies to build a new fleet of navy submarines, a major step to reduce its military dependence on the United States. Other Big Stories American A.I. companies complain that Chinese competitors are unfairly copying their systems — and they’re begging U.S. officials to do something about it. Chickens can’t sweat. The recent heat wave in France killed millions of them. Microsoft is sharply reducing its video game business, laying off nearly 3,000 Xbox employees and dropping several game studios. CAN ICE DO THAT? Federal agents visiting David Streever’s home in June. David Streever, via Associated Press In January, a man named David Streever sent a scathing email to the acting director of ICE after two demonstrators were shot to death in Minneapolis. He called the director a “monstrous human being” and compared him to a Nazi. In June, federal agents showed up at his door in Rochester, N.Y., serving his wife a written warning that his email might have constituted an illegal threat. Two days later, another agent tried to intercept him at a New York City hotel where he and his daughter were staying, according to a lawsuit. Yesterday, a free-speech watchdog sued the Trump administration, arguing that the agents’ actions amounted to intimidation and unconstitutional retaliation for protected speech. “When you have federal agents showing up at your home, confronting your wife, tracking you to a hotel with your daughter, that’s more than enough to send the message that you should shut up,” one of the lawyers said. Read the full story here. (This link is free.) OPINIONS Want fairer college admissions? Bring back standardized testing, the editorial board writes. (This link is free.) NATO’s survival might depend less on the United States being a good ally to Europe and more on Europeans being good allies for themselves, Massimo Calabresi writes. Deeply reported journalism needs your support. The Times relies on subscribers to help fund our mission. Become a subscriber today. MORNING READS In Santiago de Cuba. Lisette Poole González for The New York Times Getting by: In Cuba, the U.S. oil blockade has deepened a humanitarian crisis. The Times followed a family of seven that survives on less than $60 a month. Billion-dollar scent: Bath & Body Works made a fortune on its Japanese Cherry Blossom fragrance. Can it come up with its next big thing? (This link is free.) Your pick: The most clicked link in The Morning yesterday was about a swim party for Muslim families in Texas. TODAY’S NUMBER 7 — That’s how many cans of Red Bull a passionate England supporter drank while staying up all night in a London pub to see his team defeat Mexico in a game that started at 7 p.m. on Sunday in Mexico City, or 2 a.m. Monday in London. “I’ve got heart palpitations right now,” he told The Times. WORLD CUP Ruth Fremson/The New York Times Before the game between Belgium and the United States, Trump called the head of FIFA and asked him to overturn a red-card suspension of a top American player. “I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump said yesterday. People around the world, including some Americans, condemned the call. After Belgium won, the team mocked Trump. “Overturn this,” it posted on social media. American fans will likely be dissecting what went wrong until the 2030 Cup rolls around. It was that bad. See how a series of mistakes led to Belgium’s third goal. Spain took down Portugal, 1-0, ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s dream to win a World Cup. He’s not expected to play in another tournament. RECIPE OF THE DAY David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Here’s a lovely weeknight repast from Yewande Komolafe, crispy tofu with cashews and blistered snap peas. For the tofu, there’s a fantastic, salty-sweet coconut-milk sauce that zings with ginger. The real star of the show, though, is Ms. Snap Peas, dressed in rice vinegar with spangles of sliced scallion and a nice bit of mint. Enjoy. IN VOGUE Kareem Rahma Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images My colleagues on the Styles desk have determined the most stylish people of 2026 so far. Nice to see Kareem Rahma make the cut. That’s a good take. Time to debate! See the list. (The link is free.) More on culture It’d be tough to stare at the ceiling of Grand Central Terminal in New York for 10 minutes straight, at least if you did it standing up. The neck strain! But with The Times’s 10-minute challenge, you can look straight at your computer — and learn a lot about the art up there. Come join us. (This link is free.) There’s a new Madonna album out, “Confessions II,” her first full-length release in seven years. Is it any good? “The continuous mix of the album — songs melt into the next — effects a D.J. set as Madonna explains club-land liberation theology through various dance subgenres,” Evelyn McDonnell writes. Read on. Late night hosts roasted Trump’s Fourth of July party. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter Blitz yourself some smoothies this summer with the best blender tested by the fruit-obsessed whiz kids at Wirecutter. Pro tip: You can find used and reconditioned models all over the internet. Stop ignoring your pelvic floor, fellas. You have one, and it may need help. Read “The Little Drummer Girl,” John le Carré’s flamboyant, theatrical 1983 thriller about Israeli intelligence agents infiltrating a cell of Palestinian terrorists. If there is a villain in the novel, Anatole Broyard wrote in his review for The Times, “it is only history.” GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was avalanche. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections, Crossplay and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times and me. See you tomorrow. — Sam Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Host: Sam Sifton Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Evan Gorelick, Brent Lewis, Lara McCoy, Karl Russell Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Editorial Director, Newsletters: Jodi Rudoren

🎂 1 Dubya thing: 43 turns 8-0 Former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush arrive for the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago last month. Photo: Mustafa Hussain/Bloomberg via Getty Images Former President George W. Bush turned 8-0 yesterday in Maine. His daughter Jenna Bush Hager said her father — a big mountain biker — celebrated with a spin class and a family dinner. 🎈 Big birthday summer: President Trump turned 80 last month. Former President Clinton turns 80 on Aug. 19.

🌐 Europe plans for post-Trump world Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Stock: Getty Images Terrified by President Trump's tariffs and threats against Greenland, Europe's leaders held a secret January crisis meeting to plot how to survive a rupture with America, according to a deeply reported Wall Street Journal story (gift link). Why it matters: European allies are quietly stripping U.S. tech from government systems and pouring billions into homegrown space, AI and data-center firms in what the Journal calls an "unprecedented experiment in de-Americanization." Nearly 30 leaders gathered for a tense Brussels summit dubbed "therapy night," where French President Emmanuel Macron declared "there is no going back," warning Europe's overreliance on America was a security risk. Italy's Giorgia Meloni initially pushed back on the room's mood, arguing Trump could still be reasoned with even if other leaders didn't like him. Months later, after Trump's airstrikes on Iran spiked fuel prices across Europe, even Meloni had changed her tune and declared that Trump "is not reasonable." Worthy of your time.

💥 Trump's Iran grudge hangs over NATO summit Photo illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios. Photos via Getty Images President Trump arrives at the NATO summit in Ankara today still furious at the allies who refused to help him fight Iran — and determined to make sure they know it, Axios' Barak Ravid and Marc Caputo write. Why it matters: For years, Trump has openly questioned whether America's closest allies are strong enough, loyal enough or useful enough to deserve the protection they've relied on since World War II. Some allies' refusal to open air bases for U.S. strikes on Iran — or to send forces to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz — has hardened his NATO skepticism into open contempt. Zoom in: Trump has spent the weeks since the Iran war publicly humiliating Europe's leaders. He has mocked Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, claiming she "begged" him for a photo at the G7. Yesterday, Trump posted a meme of Meloni with the caption: "Restraining order needed." He called outgoing U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer weak and suggested his hesitation over Iran showed he was "no Winston Churchill." Even NATO chief Mark Rutte — Europe's preeminent "Trump whisperer" — struck out last month when he tried to flatter the president with a gold-lettered chart touting "The Trump Trillion" in allied defense spending. 👀 What to watch: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of U.S. forces in Europe last month. One U.S. official told Axios the review could lead to adjustments in Europe. A second U.S. official said a "NATO drawdown isn't really on the table" for the summit, but added: "The president isn't happy with the Europeans. It's the same old story." U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker told reporters that Trump will push allies to move faster toward spending 5% of GDP on defense. 🇺🇦 Between the lines: Trump's meeting with Zelensky could become the summit's most consequential side drama. Ukrainian officials hope the meeting — their second in three weeks — will produce movement on two urgent priorities: Patriot air defense systems and a new U.S. push for a deal to end the war.

🤖 Claude's hidden thinking space Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios Anthropic said yesterday that it has identified an internal workspace Claude uses to hold and manipulate ideas without putting them into words — a structure it says resembles how humans consciously access thoughts, Axios' Ina Fried and Madison Mills write. Why it matters: Anthropic hasn't shown that Claude feels or experiences anything. But the discovery gives fresh ammunition to the debate over what would count as machine consciousness. In a video, the company says Claude uses this "J-space" to plan strategies that can be unrelated to its immediate task and are separate from the "chain of thought" reasoning it shares with users. "We can see Claude silently perform reasoning steps in its head—noticing bugs in code, identifying images, and more," Anthropic said in a post on X accompanying its video. 🧠 The intrigue: Anthropic's research paper uses the word "conscious" over 200 times, though the company doesn't go so far as to say its models are conscious. Watch the video ... Anthropic's paper ...

THIS DAY IN HISTORY July 7 1930 Preliminary work begins on the Hoover Dam Construction of the Hoover Dam begins. Over the next five years, a total of 21,000 men would work ceaselessly to produce what would be the largest dam of its time, as well as one of the largest manmade structures in the world. read more Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT Cold War 1983 11-year-old Samantha Smith leaves for visit to the USSR Crime 1865 Mary Surratt is first woman executed by U.S. federal government Early U.S. 1798 U.S. launches the Quasi-War with France, the first conflict since the Revolution European History 2005 Terrorists attack London transit system at rush hour Native American History 1863 Kit Carson begins his campaign against Native Americans Sports 2019 U.S. women’s soccer team wins record 4th World Cup title 1912 Jim Thorpe begins Olympic pentathlon U.S. Government and Politics 1797 First impeachment of a U.S. Senator U.S. Presidents 1946 Future President Jimmy Carter marries 1986 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter spend wedding anniversary building Habitat for Humanity home Women’s History 1976 Female cadets enrolled at West Point 1981 Reagan announces Sandra Day O’Connor as pick for the Supreme Court World War I 1917 British Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps is officially established World War II 1942 Himmler decides to begin medical experiments on Auschwitz prisoners

Bull Run Begins The annual nine-day San Fermín festival—known as the Running of the Bulls—kicked off yesterday in Pamplona, Spain. Watch the traditional rocket launch, overlooking 12,000 crowdgoers wearing white and waving red handkerchiefs, here (via YouTube). Beginning today, thousands of people will sprint ahead of six fighting bulls and six steers each morning at 8 am local time, followed by an afternoon bullfight. The medieval-era festival honors Saint Fermín, remembered as the son of a Roman senator and Pamplona's first bishop. In the 16th century, festivities were moved from the saint's feast day in the fall to July, presumably to coincide with the peak season for cattle markets. This year, celebrations coincide with the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ernest Hemingway's “The Sun Also Rises,” which popularized the festival. Read about the novel’s enduring legacy here. At least 16 people are believed to have died in the festivities over the past century; see photos from 1947 here.

Kirk Murder Hearing Prosecutors this week are publicly unveiling their evidence in the murder case of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot during a speaking event at Utah Valley University last September. The preliminary hearing that began yesterday will determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to send the case to trial. Watch the first day's livestream here. The defendant, 23-year-old Tyler Robinson, is charged with aggravated murder; he has not entered a plea as of this writing. Day 1 of the hearing included testimony from former campus police officer Chris Bagley, who said authorities found what appeared to be a "sniper pad" on a campus rooftop overlooking the event. (Read more highlights.) Prosecutors also outlined evidence they plan to present over the coming days, including DNA evidence, autopsy findings, an alleged confession, and a video interview with Robinson's former roommate and romantic partner. Read the alleged confession texts and charging documents here. See a timeline of the investigation, including aerial mapping of the shooting, here (scroll down for map).

NATO Defense Push World leaders are gathering in Ankara, Turkey, today for the 36th annual NATO summit. The 32-member alliance is expected to showcase new military equipment funded by increased defense spending. NATO is estimated to spend about $258B more on defense across 2025 and 2026 as members work to increase defense budgets from 2% to 5% of their gross domestic product by 2035. President Donald Trump pushed for the higher target last year, arguing that member states rely too heavily on the US. He threatened to reduce backing for allies that fail to meet the metric. Countries near Russia—such as Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia—are nearing the 5% goal, while Spain and Belgium previously struggled to meet the 2% benchmark. See how much NATO allies spend on defense here. Separately, Ukraine renewed calls for NATO support yesterday after reporting that Russia launched 68 missiles and 351 drones at and around Kyiv. NATO allies have reportedly provided 99% of all military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded in 2022. Learn how NATO works in one minute. (w/video)

Explosions rock Syria’s capital as French President Macron visits DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Explosions rocked Syria’s capital on Tuesday and injured at least 18 people as France’s president met with his counterpart in a landmark visit to the country rebuilding from years of civil war, Syria’s Interior Ministry said. https://apnews.com/article/syria-france-macron-damascus-explosions-4bbe664b13bc1fb18042e9689f4ceab7?

Belgium beats US 4-1 to reach World Cup quarterfinals, taking advantage of defensive lapses SEATTLE (AP) — Images told the story of the United States’ World Cup downfall. https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-united-states-belgium-score-0325e8102be7a88e852079deffd70ca0? ps:Good for them! The US didn't need any help from the man that has no knowledgeable of soccer!! They could've won on there own, they didn't need someone to try and fix the game for them!!!!!!!!!! ⚽ World Cup bummer View from behind the goal as U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese unable to stop Belgium's fourth score during a 4-1 World Cup Round of 16 loss in Seattle. Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images The U.S. crashed out of its home World Cup last night, losing 4–1 to Belgium in Seattle, just after President Trump leaned on FIFA to get striker Folarin Balogun cleared to play. The Americans got their best crack at a deep run in a generation with home turf, a soft bracket and a mostly healthy roster, but squandered it in a lopsided and embarrassing exit. Belgium rested two of its biggest stars and still won comfortably — a measure of how far the Americans remain from soccer's elite. The match was nearly over before it started. A Belgium forward scored in the ninth minute, and though the U.S. bounced back on a deflected free kick, the same Belgian struck again two minutes later to take back the lead. U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese's blunder, mishandling a ball far outside his net, gave Belgium a third goal, and then the Belgians scored a fourth in the final minute. For a month, America charmed the soccer world as co-host and won over visiting fans. That goodwill came crashing down after FIFA reversed the suspension of Balogun, the U.S.'s leading scorer. The reversal came after Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Balogun had been red-carded a match earlier. The reversal drew a rare public rebuke from Europe's soccer establishment. Photo: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images Cristiano Ronaldo, one of soccer's biggest superstars, teared up on the pitch in Arlington, Texas, after playing in his last World Cup match yesterday. Portugal, where he made his international debut 23 years ago, was eliminated by Spain. That ended the World Cup career for the all-time leader in international goals (146) and appearances (233). He's the only player to score goals in six consecutive World Cups. "I go with a clear conscience," Ronaldo, 41, said after the match. Photo gallery: Ronaldo in six World Cups.

We'll see! They've said many times one thing or another and always did something else!! Jesus tells us that you'll hear peace here and there, but there won't be any!!!

Semiquincentennial snapshot: the US at 250 years Insights about the nation's population, households, education, employment, and income. https://usafacts.org/articles/semiquincentennial-snapshot-the-us-at-250-years/? One last fact The Constitution gives Congress the sole authority to admit new states to the union. Most states form by drafting a state constitution and submitting it for Congressional approval. Once approved, it passes an Act of Admission, which the president signs, officially granting statehood. Sixteen states formed in the 18th century, 29 in the 19th century, and five in the 20th century. When was your state founded?

☀️ Parting shot: Parisian skies Photo: Mark Tonzello Reader Mark Tonzello snapped this scene from the terrace of a Paris hotel. As Mark put it: "Beauty under the scorching sun."

EMDR goes mainstream Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios A pair of recent essays made a powerful case for "EMDR," the trauma therapy formally known as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, Axios' Natalie Daher writes. Neither writer was subtle about the stakes. For both, the treatment altered lives that had been knocked severely off balance. 🔎 Zoom in: In The Wall Street Journal, health journalist Michael Waldholz writes that EMDR helped pull him back from the brink after a divorce in his mid-'60s (gift link). In The New Yorker, music critic Amanda Petrusich describes turning to EMDR after the sudden death of her husband in 2022, when their daughter was just 13 months old. 🔭 Zoom out: Their essays are not clinical endorsements so much as personal testimony. Waldholz describes a long-tail shift in his nervous system: "Stress no longer triggered overwhelming reactions. A newfound flexibility in the face of life's normal challenges made me feel like I had acquired a superpower." Petrusich is more cautious, but no less moved by the possibility of relief. "EMDR can help the brain to process trauma in a more adaptive way," she writes, "thereby lessening its capacity to completely capsize a person." 🖼️ The big picture: EMDR is not new. Psychology student Francine Shapiro began developing it in 1987, and the treatment has since become one of the better-studied therapies for PTSD. It typically asks patients to focus briefly on a traumatic memory while also engaging in bilateral stimulation — usually guided eye movements, though therapists may also use alternating taps, tones or hand-held buzzers. The full protocol is structured around eight phases, from history-taking and preparation to desensitization, body scan, closure and reevaluation. 📈 What's new is its cultural momentum. The Cut reported earlier this year that Zocdoc users "booked 79% more EMDR appointments in 2025 compared to the previous year." Once easy to dismiss as strange or fringe, EMDR is now recognized in PTSD treatment guidance from major organizations, including the World Health Organization, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Psychological Association. Celebrity mentions have helped, too: Prince Harry was filmed using bilateral tapping in an EMDR session in his mental-health series with Oprah Winfrey, and Miley Cyrus credited the therapy with helping her overcome stage fright. 🧩 The paradox: Many clinicians are confident that EMDR works, while researchers continue to debate exactly why. 🧠 One theory is that the bilateral stimulation helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories in a way that resembles aspects of REM sleep. Another, known as the "working-memory theory," suggests that recalling a painful memory while performing a second task reduces the memory's vividness and emotional charge. 🌱 The bottom line: Even if the origin story sounds improbable, the results, for many patients, have been harder to dismiss.

Then He had a advantage, think about it.

Well looks like we are on the road to 'Peace' in the Middle East......... "DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Hamas militant group said Monday it had dissolved its government in Gaza and is preparing to transfer power to a technical committee backed by the United Nations as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. Hamas did not say whether it planned to take the crucial step of disarming or handing over security to an international force, but described its decision as evidence of its commitment to Gaza’s reconstruction after years of war. It was unclear if the move, announced by a lower-level official, would lead to any meaningful change on the ground. The Board of Peace, the new entity led by President Donald Trump with the mandate of governing and rebuilding Gaza, said it was aware of the Hamas announcement but said it would assess the impact based on “actions, not promises.” The board stressed in a statement on X that the technocratic committee must control all weapons in Gaza, as laid out in the ceasefire agreement. At a news conference Monday, Ismail al-Thawabta, general director of the Hamas-run Government Media Office, said “only technical and professional staff” would remain in their positions to run the Palestinian enclave’s day-to-day affairs. “All employees working in service provision are ‘state employees’ and are fully prepared to work under the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza,” al-Thawabta said during a press conference in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem called it “a positive step forward on the path to implement the ceasefire deal.” Hamas dissolves its government in Gaza to transfer power to a UN-backed committee

He was like us in all ways except sin. That means he was fully human (minus the sin).

I'm so sorry Bonnie. Prayers for you and your family.

Remember, the BEEF Ellen White and her contemporaries had with the Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches was that all those Churches taught that God "DIDN'T HAVE A BODY". This is why Ellen White called "THE PERSONALITY (aka body) OF GOD" a pillar Doctrine of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. According to the Sabbath Herald Paper the literal body of God (AKA The Personality of God Doctrine) was what held the SDA Church together and set it apart from the Babylon systems that promulgated that God DIDN'T have a body.