Remembering
James Robison

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The Brew: Fires, Freedoms, and Farewells

Dramatic sky over Jerusalem, view from the Olive Mountain, taken shortly before a thunderstorm

By Gayle McQueary Published on May 1, 2025

As April draws to a close, the world is watching a series of events that underscore the fragility of freedom, the resilience of nations, and the ever-evolving landscape of political accountability. From the wildfires currently raging in Israel to debates over the First Amendment in America, as well as the passing of a conservative icon, find a nice comfy chair to catch up on this morning’s Brew.

Israel Ablaze

In Israel, a nation already steeped in solemn remembrance on its Memorial Day for fallen soldiers, disaster struck yesterday when wildfires erupted on the outskirts of Jerusalem. The flames, fueled by extreme heat and high winds, forced three towns to evacuate and injured at least 13 people, though no fatalities had been reported at press time. Route 1, the main highway connecting Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, was closed as thick smoke billowed over the hills. Dramatic footage showing people abandoning their cars to flee the encroaching blaze.

The timing couldn’t have been more poignant. Memorial Day ceremonies, which mark the eve of Israel’s Independence Day, were disrupted, including the the main state event in Jerusalem being canceled. According to The Times of Israel, 120 fire and rescue teams, supported by aircraft and helicopters, were mobilized to contain the fires, with the military stepping in to assist. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Italy and Croatia were sending three firefighting planes, and appeals for help were being sent to Greece, Cyprus, and Bulgaria.

This natural disaster underscores the fragility of even the most resilient nations. On a day meant to honor sacrifice, Israelis found themselves battling a new kind of threat — one that respects neither borders nor holidays. Please join us in praying for the firefighters battling the blaze, rain to help combat the fires and for those in the fire’s path to remain safe.

First Amendment Under Fire: Pro-Life Advocate Targeted in Illinois

Across the Atlantic, a different kind of battle is unfolding — this one one over the First Amendment.

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Carbondale, Illinois for seeking criminal charges against volunteer sidewalk counselor Brandon Hamman. Hamman’s crime? Peacefully displaying signs reading “Please don’t abort your baby” and “Free baby supplies” on public property outside an abortion clinic on April 16.

City officials, citing a vague ordinance regulating signs, ordered Hamman to remove them, claiming he had no right to engage in such “speech.” When Hamman said he had constitutional protections, a city employee bluntly replied, “No, you don’t.” The ACLJ argues that Carbondale’s actions are a direct violation of Hamman’s First Amendment rights, and is accusing the city of weaponizing bureaucratic red tape to silence the pro-life message.

This case raises a profound question: If yard signs on public property aren’t protected by the First Amendment and can be so easily trampled by local officials, when will it become illegal in our country to stand on public property silently praying? (It already is in England.) The freedom to speak, especially on matters of life and conscience, is a cornerstone of American liberty, and the ACLJ’s lawsuit is a clarion call to protect that freedom for all Americans, regardless of their views. The outcome of this case could set a precedent in the lengths cities can go in stifling speech they deem “inconvenient” or unpopular.

Executive Order Mobilizes Legal Support for Officers

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at strengthening law enforcement across the United States, targeting both local policing practices and jurisdictions with sanctuary policies. According to The Epoch Times, the order directs the Department of Justice to enhance federal resources for local law enforcement agencies, including providing legal support and indemnification for officers facing unjust expenses or liabilities from their duties. It also seeks to increase officers’ pay, improve training, and bolster prison security by maximizing federal resources, including surplus military and national security assets.

A key focus of the order is to eliminate “illegal race- and sex-based ‘equity’ policies.” Trump criticized local leaders for obstructing law enforcement through DEI initiatives, stating, “When local leaders demonize law enforcement and impose legal and political handcuffs that make aggressively enforcing the law impossible, crime thrives and innocent citizens and small business owners suffer.”

On the same day, Trump also signed a separate executive order addressing sanctuary jurisdictions, accusing some state and local officials of engaging in a “lawless insurrection” by obstructing federal immigration enforcement. This followed Justice Department actions, including suing the town of Rochester, New York over its sanctuary policies on April 25. That suit stems from a March 24 incident in which Rochester Mayor Malik Evans complained during a press conference that local police shouldn’t be called on to assist federal agents in immigration enforcement efforts.

This tension between federal authority and local autonomy is a fault line that could shape law enforcement policy for years to come, raising questions about the balance of power in a nation founded on checks and balances.

Remembering David Horowitz: Conservative Commentator Passes at 86

The conservative world mourns the passing of conservative author and activist David Horowitz, who passed away yesterday at age 86 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Horowitz is best known for his transformation from a prominent New Left activist and intellectual in the 1960s to a leading conservative commentator and author of books such as, Radical Son (1997), a memoir detailing his ideological journey, and Final Battle: The Next Election Could Be the Last (2022), which reshaped the 2024 campaign trail.

The David Horowitz Freedom Center announced his death on X, noting his lifelong dedication to fighting for freedom. Horowitz, a former Marxist who became a leading conservative thinker, was a polarizing yet influential figure whose journey from the hard Left to the Right inspired many.

Born in 1939 in Queens, New York, to communist parents, Horowitz initially embraced Marxist ideology, even working with the Black Panther Party. But when his friend Betty Van Patter was murdered by the Panthers in 1974, he was forced to confront the movement’s moral failings, leading to his dramatic shift to conservatism.

Horowitz founded the Freedom Center in 1998, using it as a platform to combat what he saw as oppressive ideologies, from communism to radical Islamism. His books, including Dark Agenda: The War to Destroy Christian America, shaped Christian conservative thought, and his mentorship of figures like Charlie Kirk has left a lasting mark on American politics.

Horowitz’s life reminds us of the power of redemption and the courage to stand for truth, even at great personal cost.

The Pelosi Act Resurfaces: Renewed Push to Ban Congressional Stock Trading

Finally, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) is reigniting a push for the P.E.L.O.S.I. Act, a bill that would ban lawmakers from trading stocks. Officially known as the Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act, the legislation (S.58 in the 118th Congress) aims to curb insider trading by prohibiting members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from buying or selling stocks during the member’s tenure.

The bill’s name is a jab at former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose husband, Paul Pelosi, has drawn scrutiny over very profitable stock trades. Hawley’s effort taps into widespread public frustration with congressional ethics and accountability from the people who spend taxpayers’ money hand over fist. At least this bill is a step toward ensuring that leaders serve the people, not their own portfolios, better aligning with biblical principles of integrity in leadership.

Along The Stream…

Stream contributor Jules Gomes brings another eye-opening piece about Germany’s bishops issuing guidelines allowing blessings for couples of all gender identities and sexual orientations, marking a significant departure from traditional Catholic teachings.

Also, John Zmirak recently joined Emerald Robinson on The Absolute Truth to discuss the passing of Pope Francis and who the next pope might be.

 

Gayle McQueary is The Stream’s social media coordinator. She has a background in production and is a scary judge of congressional insider trading.