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  In medieval Europe, trade was a key part of the day-to-day economy. Great trading cities would see hundreds, if not thousands, of merchants pass through their city gates every year, selling wares from lands as far away as India and China. It is hard to fathom in today’s multicultural age of travel and consumerism, but wares such as pottery from China could fetch huge prices in European markets. Some Medieval cities stood out more than others as epicenters of trade; in this article, we will discuss eight of the most important trading cities from the medieval age.   1. Venice Procession in St Mark’s Square in Venice, painting by Gentile Bellini, 1490. Source: Accademia, Venice   Many Italian cities were hubs of trade during the Middle Ages, but few more so than Venice. Located in northeast Italy, the city on the lagoon became a center of medieval trade for centuries.   Being located on the Adriatic Sea, Venice’s geographical position gave it an advantage over numerous other Italian city-states at the time, and having such strong links with the Catholic Church gave it the political backing that it needed to become one of the most powerful trading cities in the medieval world.   In addition, Venice also sat at the Mediterranean end of the Silk Road, making it a perfect location for travelers from Europe to stock up on supplies and wares to sell in the Middle and Far East. Likewise, it served as an endpoint at which Eastern travelers and merchants could sell their goods.   Trade undoubtedly influenced the cuisine of Venice as well, with exotic spices such as saffron, cardamom, and more being used in cooking, especially in the great noble homes and villas of the region.   Canal in modern Venice, photo by Damiano Baschiera. Source: Unsplash   Perhaps the most notable site in Venice for trade began as early as the 13th century when German merchants were granted permission to build the “Fondaco dei Tedeschi” on the Grand Canal.   Literally translated as “German Warehouse,” the building was situated directly across from the fresh fish, vegetable, and fruit markets that Venice was already known for, and it held the one thing that trading communities thrived on: wood.   Transported from the Alps Mountains by the river to the lagoon of Venice, timber from the forests of Germany and the Alpine region was processed and sold from the Fondaco dei Tedeschi to numerous traders, construction workers, and shipbuilders in the region. In turn, the German merchants bought exotic goods from the East, and sent them back up to Germany—new, fragrant spices, perfumes, and silks were deemed luxuries in the Middle Ages.   Venice was undoubtedly one of the most important trading cities in the medieval world.   2. Milan Piazza Mercanti—the heart of medieval Milan. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Milan, also located in northern Italy, was another trading epicenter in the Middle Ages. Milan’s advantage over Venice was its sheer size—at one point, one of the largest cities in medieval Europe—attracting thousands of merchants to its gates.   However, Milan’s heyday was at the other end of the Middle Ages, and came later, running into the Renaissance years of the Early Modern Period.   Much of Milan’s trade came from its natural surroundings and the agriculture that thrived on the city’s borders, such as the vineyards of northern Italy which produced wine that was drunk all around Europe, from the Balkans to the British Isles.   Milan was also easier to access than many other Italian cities, and it meant that merchants no longer had to travel to Rome or cross the water to Venice, making Milan an attractive option for them to sell their wares and trade other goods in the northern Italian region.   3. Genoa A view of Genoa and its fleet in 1481, by Cristoforo de Grassi, 1597. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Another Italian city-state, Genoa, was an incredibly powerful medieval city that thrived on trade. Located in northwest Italy on the Mediterranean Sea, the port city of Genoa was not just a powerful European city, but an incredibly powerful global city — Christopher Columbus himself, for example, was Geonese, not Spanish.   Because of its location, Genoa expanded at a rapid rate, from its humble origins as a quiet fishing village to one of the most important trading centers in the medieval world.   Much of Genoa’s wealth came from its location, and how it strategically controlled trade through the Mediterranean to the Black Sea.   The Genoese military was highly envied, and many Genoese soldiers were bought as mercenaries in numerous wars in medieval Europe; they featured heavily in the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453). Because of their military prowess, the Genoese built numerous fortresses along their trading routes, even as far afield as Crimea.   Alongside seafood and weaponry, the Genoese are also credited with inventing denim cloth — which was in turn used to supply sailors and other merchants so they could wear more durable clothing. Naturally, it fetched a pretty price and ultimately helped to boost the medieval economy of Genoa even higher than before.   4. Girona Girona, photographer unknown. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Not to get mixed up with Genoa, Girona, located in the Catalonia region of northeast Spain, was another medieval city that thrived on trade.   Girona had similar beginnings to many of the large medieval trading cities, with a simple agricultural market held once a week being the main form of trade in the city and its surrounding areas.   However, during the Middle Ages merchants and buyers began visiting Girona for goods that they struggled to get elsewhere. Girona became famous for its leather, useful in crafting and weaponry, and the city also became an ideal location to buy weapons from.   By the turn of the 14th century, Girona’s merchants were regularly trading with cities hundreds of miles away, such as those in the Flemish region of Europe, where they would trade Gironan leather for Flemish textiles.   The textile industry was also prevalent in Girona, too—bedclothes, bedsheets, and wool were also traded in the city, and those in the surrounding towns and villages would travel to the city, especially for these necessary goods, and thus encounter foreign merchants who were also peddling their wares at the same time, creating a bustling trading economy in the medieval city of Girona.   5. Dubrovnik The Old City, Dubrovnik. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Again, Dubrovnik became an epicenter of medieval trade because of its strategic location: placed perfectly between the Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic Sea, this huge city could control the trade to and from the Mediterranean, Africa, the Balkans, and even further afield.   Merchants from Dubrovnik famously sailed under a white flag with the writing “Libertas” on it—the Latin word for “Freedom.” They were associated with neutrality and peace and kept much of their trade going despite often trading with warring factions.   One of Dubrovnik’s biggest achievements was being one of the first European cities to introduce quarantine as a method of dealing with the bubonic plague outbreak in the mid-14th century known as the Black Death. As a result, Dubrovnik still managed to maintain their trade, whereas other cities completely shut down and their economies collapsed as a result.   Following the Black Death, from the mid-14th century onwards, Dubrovnik’s trading empire grew, and they were regularly trading with other areas in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, including Sicily, Syria, and Egypt.   6. Paris Paris illustration from Chroniques de Jean Froissart, 1475. Source: BnF   One of the most important shopping cities in the world today, Paris’s reputation as a trading city harks back to the Middle Ages and even earlier.   In fact, even before the Roman Conquest of Gaul in 50 BCE, the inhabitants of Paris (known as Parisii) had traded with cities in countries as far afield as Spain and even Eastern Europe.   So by the time the Middle Ages came around, Paris became a focal point of medieval trade and Europe’s largest city. Wine was one of the biggest commodities that was traded—and even today, French wine holds a reputation as some of the world’s best. In the Medieval Period, the numerous vineyards that surrounded Paris produced gallons of wine, which were traded and shipped as far afield as North Africa and Eastern Europe.   Medieval Paris was also famed for its tanneries, and leather was another commodity sold throughout Europe from the French capital.   During the Middle Ages, Paris hosted its world-renowned trade fairs, which were held annually and attracted hundreds, if not thousands, of merchants from across the world where they could buy Parisian goods and sell their own.   7. York 15th century York, by E. Ridsdale Tate, 1914. Source: York Castle   Last but certainly not least, the city of York in northern England was another key trading city in the medieval world. What sets York apart was that it was not a coastal city like so many others, but it did make use of the nearby port of Hull where it sent and received many goods during the Middle Ages.   York’s reputation grew initially as a local market city, and famous meat markets were held in the Shambles: an area of York that still exists today almost exactly as it did during the Medieval Period.   Given its geographical location, York was too cold for vineyards, so it made its money through wool, which it traded as far afield as the Baltic States in northeastern Europe. It was also famed for trading in grain, which it shipped both abroad and throughout the rest of the country.   Many medieval monarchs traveled through York on their way to Scotland, and King Edward I (r. 1272-1307) famously moved his Parliament to York in 1298, once again reflecting the city’s importance both commercially and politically during the Middle Ages.   Conclusion Medieval Market scene, 15th century. Source: Wikimedia Commons   In conclusion, many cities in the Middle Ages were trading centers, and many of them still have that reputation today. From the coastal fortresses of Genoa to the wool trade of York, medieval Europe attracted merchants from as far away as China and Egypt to trade in the goods that were on offer, and vice versa.

  In its early years, the Ottoman Empire was inspired by Persio-Islamic and Byzantine culture. This affected the style of Ottoman architecture, and Mosques, madrasas, hospitals, bazaars, and palaces reflected this rich cultural blend. Learn about ten architectural marvels from the Ottoman Empire below. 1. Ulu Camii: The Grand Mosque of Bursa Fountain in Ulu Camii. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I (d. 1402) commissioned architect Ali Neccar to build the massive Ulu Camii (Grand Mosque) complex between 1396 and 1399. With a surface area of 3,165.5 square meters (34,073.1 square feet), the complex accommodates around 5,000 people. The courtyard contains a sadirvan, a fountain over a water basin in which Muslims perform the ablution before prayer.   The mosque is significant because it represents a shift in Turkish architectural style. In contrast to beylik (principality) and Seljuk Period architecture, the Ulu Camii incorporated more Islamo-Persian structures and designs.   During its 600 years of existence, the mosque has seen several catastrophic events. In 1402, the Turco-Mongol conqueror—and Bayezid’s greatest rival—Tamerlane attempted to burn the mosque down. In 1412, the mosque was yet again targeted by Mehmed Bey, ruler of the Karamanid principality which had put Bursa under siege.   Earthquakes throughout the centuries also damaged the exterior and interior of the building, leading to a melange between earlier Ottoman and later Baroque-style paintings and patterns. Still, Islamic calligraphy and geometric motifs are dominant inside the mosque.   2. Rumeli Fortress:  The “Throat Cutter” The Rumeli Fortress situated along the Bosphorus Strait, Source: Wikimedia Commons   By the mid-15th century, the imperial Byzantine capital Constantinople had seen its fair share of failed sieges and conquests. The Bosphorus Strait, the waterway connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, had protected the city from assailants and conquerors. That was until the arrival of the ambitious Ottoman Sultan Mehmed “the Conqueror” who conquered the city in 1453.   Like his great-grandfather Bayezid I who had commissioned the Anadolu Fortress, Mehmed understood that a strategic fortification was necessary. Construction of the Boğazkesen or “strait-cutter” was started in 1451. A chilling reminder of its role in the conquest, Boğazkesen’s literal meaning was “throat cutter,” from the Turkish boğaz, “throat,” and kesen, “cutter.”   Not only did this fortress station janissaries and artillery in preparation for the conquest but it controlled access to the waterway and entry to Constantinople; Venetian ships were forced to pay a toll when passing, and when they refused, were sunk to the bottom of the Bosphorus. Mehmed knew that with this new fortress, he could also prevent the Venetian and Genoese allies of the Byzantines from sending reinforcements from their colonies in the Black Sea.   The fortress, composed of three main towers and 13 smaller watchtowers, was built on a hilltop opposite the Anadolu Fortress. Houses for janissary troops and a small mosque were also built in the mid 15th-century, however, they have not survived to this day. In later centuries, it was called the Rumeli Hisari or “Fortress on the Romans’ land,” a nod to the Medieval name for Byzantine territories.   3. Topkapi Palace: Imperial Residence of the Ottoman Sultans Interior of Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, by Diego Allen. Source: Unsplash   Following Mehmed II’s conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the city became the new capital of the Ottoman Empire. Six years later, in 1459, he ordered the construction of a grand palace that would be home to the Sultan and a meeting place for imperial ministers until 1853.   The Topkapi (“Canon Gate”) Palace is a grand complex, consisting of kitchens, schools, storerooms, halls, treasuries, libraries, mosques, and more. Moving through several massive courtyards, one can reach the harem (women’s quarters), divan (council meeting chamber), and many pavilions and kiosks.   Throughout the centuries, various Sultans added their touches to the complex. During the reign of Sultan Süleyman “the Magnificent” (r. 1520-1566), the harem was built, and the Sultan’s family was moved into the palace. Sultan Ibrahim I “the Mad” (d. 1648) had a Sünnet Odasi (“circumcision room”) added to accommodate young princes after their traditional circumcision. In 1840, Sultan Abdul Mecid I had a kiosk built in European architectural style.   4. Istanbul University: The City’s Oldest-Running University The gates of Istanbul University. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Also built after the conquest of Constantinople, Istanbul University is the oldest-running academic institute in Turkey. It was initially founded as a medrese, a traditional institute of Islamic theology that also taught law, medicine, mathematics, and sciences like astronomy and cartography. While it functioned effectively in this way in the Medieval and Early Modern periods, by the 18th century the institute could not keep up with European advances in art and science.   In the 19th century, the declining Ottoman Empire instituted a series of reforms that were aimed at modernizing and liberalizing Turkey in the image of European nations. Changes to Istanbul University were part of these reforms; the school became a type of technical university in 1863. Like the Topkapi Palace, the architecture of the university was developed and refined over several centuries. Its final form is a melange of different styles: there are Ottoman shapes, like domed entrances, long rectangular structures and windows in 19th-century European style, and many modern buildings.   5. Koza Han: A Story of Cocoons and Silk Interior courtyard of the Koza Han, photo by Ayşe Key. Source: Pexels   The Koza (“Cocoon”) Han is a caravanserai located in Bursa, a historic city in Northwestern Turkey. The building was commissioned in 1491 by Sultan Bayezid II. Bayezid gave immense importance to the silk trade which happened to be a critical part of the Ottoman economy. As a city on the famous Silk Road, Bursa was not only a producer of fine textiles but was a hub for international merchants, traders, and craftsmen.   The Koza Han was built in a rectangular formation, with a two-story gallery encircling a large courtyard. A total of 104 rooms graced the caravanserai, used by merchants as lodgings, offices, and workshops. The Medici, a famous Italian political dynasty, even had a commercial agent and office at the Han.   Decorated in the traditional eastern style, Koza Han has geometric patterns and domed entranceways reminiscent of other Silk Road caravanserais. Today, it is used as a bazaar, with a leisurely area where visitors can enjoy the historic view with a cup of Turkish coffee!   6. Süleymaniye Mosque : A Sultan’s Legacy Aerial view of the Süleymaniye Mosque Complex. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The Süleymaniye, named after its patron Sultan Süleyman “the Magnificent,” is one of the largest mosque structures in Turkey. Desiring a mosque that would rival the Hagia Sophia, Süleyman had Sinan, one of the most prolific architects in history, build this grand structure in 1557. Standing at 59 meters (194 feet) long and 58 meters (190 feet) wide, the structure consists of a total of 15 domes, of which the highest and most central is 53 meters (174 feet) tall. Like most Ottoman mosques, the building was part of a complex that housed schools, soup kitchens for the poor, bathhouses, and medical centers. It also houses the tombs of Suleyman and his beloved wife Hürrem.   In its current form, the Süleymaniye is made up of both original and restored structures. A fire in 1660 and an earthquake in 1766 caused damage to the original building, which was restored in more contemporary styles. Due to its location in earthquake-prone Istanbul, the mosque is undergoing further restoration.   7. Hürrem Sultan Hamam: A Bathhouse Fit for a Queen Interior of the Hürrem Sultan Bathhouse. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Hamams, commonly known as “Turkish Baths,” were an important part of 16th-century Ottoman culture. They were not simply places where one would bathe or relax. The hamam also played the role of a social institute where people discussed life, marriage, politics, and religion.   Royal and elite figures often commissioned the building of a hamam as a sort of public service. In 1556, Hürrem Sultan, the powerful wife of Sultan Süleyman I and mother of Sultan Selim II, had this bathhouse constructed in Istanbul as a gesture of her charitability.   The building is split into separate sections for men and women. Each of these sections contains a dressing room, cooling room, and heating room decorated in beautiful white marble. The bathhouse was re-opened in 2007 after almost a century of disuse. It continues to attract foreign tourists looking to experience an authentic Ottoman spa treatment.   8. Stari Most: A Bridge in the Balkans Scenic view of the Stari Most, along with a nearby mosque and dwellings, photo by Gokhan Keskin. Source: Unsplash   One of the most recognizable structures in the world, Mostar Bridge (Stari Most) has an amazing tale to tell. Ordered by Sultan Süleyman in 1557, the bridge was built by Hayreddin—a pupil of the architect Sinan—in the city of Mostar, present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to legend, the architect Hayreddin, believing that the massive structure would collapse, prepared for his funeral on the day that the scaffolding was to be removed.   Luckily for him, the ambitious project was a success! The bridge’s total height is 29 meters (95 feet) and was—at the time of its construction—the widest single-arch bridge in the world. The bridge was an important addition to the city, which although growing in economic importance, still sported a wooden suspension bridge that people feared to use.   Unfortunately, on November 9, 1993, the bridge was deliberately targeted by the Croat Defence Council commander and convicted war criminal Slobodan Praljak. After the destruction of this treasured historical monument, a temporary structure was put up in its place. In 1998, UNESCO assembled a team of experts to design and reconstruct Stari Most as close to the original structure as possible. The reconstructed bridge was completed in 2004 and has become a major tourist attraction since.   9.  The Blue Mosque: The Icon of Istanbul Elaborate interior of the Sultan Ahmet Camii or “Blue Mosque.” Source: Wikimedia Commons   Arguably the most iconic piece of Ottoman architecture, this UNESCO World Heritage Site attracts 4.5 million tourists per year.  Known as the Blue Mosque because of the beautiful blue Iznik tiles that decorate its interior, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque—as it is known in Turkey—was constructed between the years 1609 and 1617.   Sultan Ahmed I (d. 1617) ordered architect Sedefkar Mehmed Aga to create a structure that would invite the grace of God after his geopolitical defeat by the Habsburg Empire. The mosque was built near the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace and required the demolition of several palaces inhabited by Ottoman viziers and ministers.   Naturally, this caused controversy among the populace, which was exacerbated when the ulema (religious scholars) banned people from praying at the mosque because it was built with money from the treasury rather than from the spoils of war.   According to architectural historians, the Blue Mosque married elements of Byzantine architecture, such as large central domes, with Islamic features, such as courtyards, minarets, and stained glass windows. However, the mosque differs from earlier Ottoman structures in several ways; it has a more extravagant façade, a higher number of minarets and cascading domes which create a softer visual element.   10. Ishak Pasha Palace: An Eastern Gem The picturesque palace of Ishak Pasha contrasts with the lush green horizon. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Located in the city of Agri, Eastern Turkey, the Ishak Pasha Palace is a unique example of a mixture of Anatolian, Iranian, and Byzantine architecture. The palace was commissioned in 1685 by Çolak Abdi Pasha, a member of the aristocratic Çildiroğullari family. Inhabited by generations of the family, it was largely abandoned in 1840 after an earthquake caused extensive damage to the structure.   The Eastern façade of the building carries many medieval Islamic motifs and designs; three-dimensional muqarnas carvings that are seen in Abbasid, Persian, and Seljuk architecture grace the entryways of Ishak Pasha. Walls and doors are carved with floral and animal motifs, not unlike those seen in Byzantine ruins.   Construction of the palace took almost a century, ending around 1780. This may explain why gothic arches, Baroque-style carved columns, and checkered stone motifs are also present in certain areas of the palace.   Despite its semi-ruined status, the Ishak Pasa Palace is one of the only surviving Ottoman-era aristocratic palaces, making it an attractive destination for both local and foreign tourists.

Five Senate Democrats staged a Pride-themed night of “guerrilla theater” Monday at the Kennedy Center to protest changes to the institution under President Donald Trump. Nothing says “resistance” like secretly booking a Pride concert at the Kennedy Center and calling it a “talent show." ?Senate Democrats and Hamilton’s producer staged a Pride-themed protest at the @kencen Monday night to oppose Trump-backed reforms. Let me explain: pic.twitter.com/39XL5IXwb8— Elise McCue (@EliseMcCue) June 24, 2025 Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., booked a space at the venue earlier this month under the pretense of a “talent show,” failing to disclose the event’s true nature. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii were also part of the event. The 90-minute show was a gay pride concert, featuring performances of songs from Broadway shows and LGBTQ monologues. Notably, the show was produced by Jeffrey Seller—the Tony Award-winning producer of Hamilton—who previously canceled the hit musical’s engagement at the Kennedy Center earlier this year, citing “the partisan policies of the Kennedy Center as a result of [Trump’s] recent takeover.” A statement from Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller. pic.twitter.com/yTLlrzFAHW— Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) March 5, 2025 “This is our way of reoccupying the Kennedy Center,” Seller said in an interview with the New York Times before Monday night’s event, titled Love is Love. “This is a form of saying, ‘We are here, we exist and you can’t ignore us.’ This is a protest, and a political act.” In response, Richard Grenell, the Trump-appointed president of the Kennedy Center—and an openly gay man—issued a statement criticizing the event, especially as it relates to the hypocritical nature of Hamilton’s involvement. “I cannot begin to understand what business it is of Mr. Seller or [Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda] how audience members vote or how it could possibly be relevant to the sacred relationship between performers and ticket holders, but they’ve made it clear that they won’t perform for audiences that might contain Americans who disagree with them on matters irrelevant to the arts.” Statement from Ambassador Richard Grenell, President of the Kennedy Center:I'm disappointed to learn that Hamilton Producer @jseller and Hamilton Creator @Lin_Manuel are working with Democratic Senators and the New York Times to boycott the Kennedy Center, refusing to perform…— The Kennedy Center (@kencen) June 23, 2025 The Kennedy Center was slated to host a weeklong “Tapestry of Pride” event earlier this month to coincide with the World Pride festival in Washington, D.C. but scrapped the entire event at the last minute. In February, Trump announced his plan to gut the President Joe Biden-appointed Kennedy Center board of trustees, appoint himself as chairman of the board, and purge woke performances from the institution’s lineup. “Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP,” Trump said in a February Truth Social post. “The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!” The post Democrats Stage ‘Guerrilla Theater’ Pride Show Inside Kennedy Center in Protest of Trump appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The Southern Baptist Convention—the largest Protestant denomination in the world—had their annual meeting this month in Dallas, Texas. The most internally controversial issues involved a potential amendment on female pastors, abolishing the Convention’s public policy arm, and a push for total financial transparency for SBC entities. All these initiatives were voted down, but one successful resolution is inviting national controversy.  The Convention passed a resolution titled On the Harmful and Predatory Nature of Sports Betting. The resolution speaks to the moral evils of gambling and sought to “condemn sports betting in all its forms.” It cited the “biblical principles of stewardship, work, and integrity.” And likewise called for gambling corporations to cease their work and even for the government to “curtail” the practice. The resolution passed with a large majority and little debate—and rightly so.  While gambling is an ancient practice, with the advent of online sports betting, the SBC resolution is timely—and necessary. In 2024 the legal sports betting industry generated $13.71 billion in revenue, taking in nearly $150 billion worth of bets, according to the American Gaming Association’s annual report. Both these numbers represent a significant increase from the previous year.  But the volume of online bets is not the only concern. Sports betting also preys disproportionately on young men. In 2023 the National Council on Problem Gambling, citing an NCAA study, reported that 58% of 18- to-22-year-olds had engaged in sports betting. Furthermore, a study by the Lancet medical journal found that over 26% of adolescents who bet on sports “exhibited gambling disorder symptoms.”  The Guardian calls this the “normalization of a taboo.” But Southern Baptists are right to go further in their language. Sports betting poses threats not only to churches but to society at large and ought to be abolished.  The recent boom in online sports betting can be traced back to 2018 when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal law that banned commercial sports betting in most states. This ruling paved the way for online markets to emerge legally. Such markets have come to dominate the sports industry, even having entire stadium complexes named after them. One can scarcely make their way through any televised sporting event without being bombarded with ads begging them to place money on their favorite team or players.  Betting is not only advertised aggressively, these gaming companies also seek to incentivize that first bet—what they hope will be the first of many. The Wall Street Journal reports: “Online sports betting companies enlist celebrities, offer free bets and dole out perks to promote a tantalizing possibility: winning.” The Journal is right. That possibility of winning is tantalizing—just out of reach.   Though most bettors think they will at least break even over time, the statistics say otherwise. In fact, sports bettors lose an average of 7.5 cents per dollar. This adds up. It also helps to fuel a dangerous addiction, leading to riskier bets and even greater losses over time. The old adage is right: The house always wins. The predatory nature of this industry is exactly why Southern Baptists call for its abolition. This industry doesn’t just affect individuals, but breaks up marriages and families, harming churches and communities. Though the SBC urges “compassionate support and counseling to those struggling with gambling addiction and its consequences,” it nevertheless acknowledges that the government has a decisive role to play to protect individuals.  The resolution urges “our leaders at all levels of government to curtail sports betting and to address its disastrous effects through policy and legislation.”  The sports betting industry is in fact evil, preying on young people and causing addictions that lead to financial strain that breaks up families. Gambling has long been recognized as morally dangerous. It is the government’s role to step in and put an end to this predatory market.  But the responsibility also falls on individuals. The resolution calls upon “Southern Baptists and all other followers of Christ to repent where needed, mourn the ubiquitous presence of sports betting in our culture, and refuse to participate in the sin of gambling.” One messenger to the SBC proposed that this resolution be amended to speak of individuals who “sin through gambling” rather than the close-minded “the sin of gambling”—insisting that betting is not inherently sinful. This is a common sentiment among many Christians and conservatives. The view argues that putting $5 on your favorite sports team and losing is no different from wasting that same $5 on a latte or cheeseburger.   While this argument makes sense on the surface, it ignores the predatory nature of gambling. When one spends $5 on a latte, they receive a good in exchange for their money. When one spends $5 on a bet, they do so in hope that they will make more money. However, this other money comes from the losses of others. Both as an industry and as an individual practice gambling preys on others. Your gain is another’s loss.  Southern Baptists rightly argue that this is a violation of the Golden Rule—to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. No one wants to be taken advantage of, but that’s exactly what the sports betting industry does. It takes advantage of individuals, addicts them to the rush of the game, and soon destroys all that is in its path. In rejecting sports betting, Southern Baptists are not only defending Christian ethics but the social bonds that hold families, churches, and communities together.  We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post Southern Baptists Get Sports Betting Right appeared first on The Daily Signal.

He was released and IMMEDIATELY went back to protesting?!

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the agency is launching a campaign to encourage Americans to utilize wearables. “Wearables put the power of health back in the hands of the American people. We’re launching one of the largest HHS campaigns in history to encourage their use—so every American can take control of their health, one data point at a time,” RFK Jr. said. “It’s a key part of our mission to Make America Healthy Again,” he added. WATCH: Wearables put the power of health back in the hands of the American people. We’re launching one of the largest HHS campaigns in history to encourage their use—so every American can take control of their health, one data point at a time. It’s a key part of our mission to Make… pic.twitter.com/H2ZY9NiTfN — Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) June 24, 2025 From POLITICO: The wearable devices have raised ethics concerns, particularly over how the technology tracks and monitors personal health data. This data is often stored in the cloud and could be sold to companies, advertisers or researchers without an individual’s knowledge or consent, according to the Brown University Center for Digital Health. The health information the devices can store is also associated with a high risk of data breaches and identity theft. And doctors and health experts have mixed views on the potential health benefits of using wearable technology. While some see benefits in monitoring health and empowering patients to take control of their health, some practitioners are concerned about the devices fueling medical anxiety, self-diagnosis and self-medication. The health secretary faced immense backlash for the massive advertising campaign. Unless they have a strict airplane mode which some devices do, where it has no EMF, then absolutely NOT. I know that I’ve interviewed you multiple times about the dangers of EMF and we’ve made a couple dozen Films on the subject over the years. :( — Erin Elizabeth Health Nut News (@unhealthytruth) June 24, 2025 I still remember when apple put a tracer on iPhones to track Covid cases via temperature and “contract tracing” and here we are smh — Lucy, nurse for the people not profits. (@LucciaorLucy) June 24, 2025 C'mon man. This is nonsense. — Toby Rogers (@uTobian) June 24, 2025 bad move. This is more exposure to EMFs, not to mention these devices can be connected to the Internet of Things control grid. — Derrick Broze (@DBrozeLiveFree) June 24, 2025 Bio-surveillance is a hard no @RobertKennedyJr.This is horrifying – I will NOT comply. https://t.co/0VY3jMEyUk — Shannon Joy (@shannonjoyradi0) June 24, 2025 Data mining and surveillance tracking. Nope. Just another huge disappointed by @SecKennedy https://t.co/Llpss9xl6T — Kelly DNP Functional/Integrative Medicine (@kacdnp91) June 24, 2025 Our next Surgeon General @CaseyMeansMD has a wearables company. https://t.co/pils7gdssB — Mary Talley Bowden MD (@MdBreathe) June 24, 2025 “My vision that is every American is wearing a wearable within four years." RFK Jr This is definitely not my vision. I wonder who is influencing his vision. You do not need wearables to MAHA. https://t.co/m9IRwIcYje — Dr. Kat Lindley (@KLVeritas) June 24, 2025 Detailed real-time biometric monitoring of everyone in the United States is a “key part” of the Make America Healthy Again mission https://t.co/YR9KmRgT3u pic.twitter.com/NMX1EooBWr — 12 Ball (@BoltzmannBooty) June 24, 2025 Unbelievable. This is about data gathering, surveillance and control. https://t.co/O4pDrCdkrR — Taylor Hudak (@_taylorhudak) June 24, 2025 Per Becker’s Hospital Review: He contrasted the expense with Ozempic — a diabetes and weight-loss medication that costs over $1,000 per month — and argued that wearables could be a more cost-effective solution. “If you can achieve the same thing with an $80 wearable, it’s a lot better for the American people,” he said. Still, experts have flagged concerns about the privacy risks and uneven health benefits of wearable devices. The Brown University Center for Digital Health warns that personal health data collected by these tools can be stored in the cloud and potentially sold to advertisers, companies or researchers without the user’s knowledge. This data can also be vulnerable to breaches and identity theft.