Federal Prayer Meets Federal Pushback Since early 2025, prayer inside federal agencies has turned into a fresh legal brawl, which is Washington's favorite way to prove it has not learned anything from history. The Trump administration has backed services at places like the Pentagon and the Labor Department, and the new routine has brought lawsuits, press releases, and the usual chorus of people who think a prayer in a government building means the republic is one hymn away from collapse. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth organized the first Secretary's Christian Prayer and Worship Service in the Pentagon auditorium in May 2025, with employees invited to attend during the workday. The Labor Department later began monthly Christian services of its own. Critics say this crosses a line, while supporters say it is simply public faith, not a state church. In Washington, of course, every disagreement quickly becomes a constitutional morality play, because no one can resist a good drama if it comes with a federal filing fee. The Phrase Everyone Quotes The words separation of church and state get treated like a magic spell, but they are not in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, or the Federalist Papers. They come from…

Tokyo rewrites the rulesJapan has taken its biggest defense export step in decades. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet approved changes that let Japanese firms ship weapons overseas for the first time since World War II. Before this, exports were largely limited to gear used for rescue, transport, warning, surveillance, and minesweeping. That is a very careful list, which is what you get when a country wants to keep one hand on the brakes while the world keeps stepping on the gas. The new policy does not erase all limits, but it does move Japan far beyond the old habit of treating every arms sale as a national panic.Security, with a side of salesTokyo says the shift is about security, regional stability, and a tougher neighborhood. China, Russia, and North Korea all play a role in that argument, and not just as names for talking points. The government also says lethal exports to countries already in conflict will only be allowed if the deal is judged to be in Japan’s national interest. That phrase is doing heavy lifting, which is often how official language works. The message is simple enough: Japan wants to strengthen its defenses, but it also wants its…