Instead of participating in the first Republican presidential primary debate, former President Donald Trump opted to sit down with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson for a pre-record discussion on various topics. The interview, posted to the social media platform X when the debate began, garnered nearly 100 million views within approximately 3.5 hours. Here are four key takeaways from that conversation. Read now.

The legal nonprofit First Liberty Institute is encouraging a South Carolina school board to continue allowing members to open meetings with prayer in the wake of an atheist group's demands that the practice stop. First Liberty sent a letter to the Dorchester School District Two of Summerville's school board to offer pro-bono legal assistance; the letter championed "the lawfulness of legislative prayer," highlighting the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court case of Kennedy v. Bremerton School District. Read more.

President Joe Biden is facing criticism for comparing his experience with a small kitchen fire to the experiences of the victims of the Hawaii wildfires, which have killed more than 100 people and damaged thousands of acres. The kitchen fire, which Biden lamented put his 1967 Corvette at risk, was reportedly under control in 20 minutes. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich called the president "nuts" while a Lahaina resident said Biden's comment was "tone-deaf." Read more.

Colorado Christian University President Eric Hogue discusses the importance of maintaining individual rights over group rights. "[A] government empowered to describe groups could also ascribe groups. Would you want to find yourself assigned to a group with fewer rights than another group?" he asks. Read more.

World Relief's Matthew Soerens makes the case for refugee resettlement and praises the bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act, which would allow "Afghan parolees to apply for permanent legal status after undergoing additional vetting." Read more.

On September 1st, Coach Joe Kennedy is returning to the field to take a knee in prayer, and it’s our prayer that coaches, players, parents and fans all over the country will join him.

But we need people of faith from coast-to-coast to challenge their friends and families to come together to make this night a national night of prayer.

The Rev. Selden Dee Kelley III, senior pastor at San Diego First Church of the Nazarene, may be removed from his position over an essay he wrote in support of same-sex marriage, which goes against the denomination's traditional stance on marriage and sexuality. Kelley plans to appeal a decision concluding that he violated denominational clergy standards. Read more.

Singer-songwriter Evan Craft is on a mission to minister to the homeless and help those who are struggling. In this interview with CP, Craft discusses Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission's expansion, the importance of loving your neighbor, and how his recently released song "Good Neighbor" was inspired by his experience with the homeless community. Watch the interview here.

The life of Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton is at the heart of "Sweetwater," a new film starring Everett Osborne, Jim Caviezel, Jeremy Pivens and Richard Dreyfuss. The movie highlights Clifton's inspiring story, including his becoming the first black man to sign a contract in the NBA. In this interview with producer Darren Moorman and star Everett Osborne, the duo reflects on making the film and the faith that was so pivotal to Clifton's career and life. Watch now.