Higher Ground
Higher Ground is dedicated to helping families of faith navigate a chaotic world with rigorous reporting, commentary and analysis on national, global and cultural issues. It is a refuge for families under siege from radical secularism. Powered by the award-winning staff of The Washington Times, Higher Ground's stories, videos and podcasts look to inspire and help readers make decisions about the world around them in a tone respectful of the tenets that forged America: Freedom, faith and family.
Dems are out of step: Most Americans think abortions should be banned at 24 weeks
Abortion is one of those incredibly rare and complex issues for which both sides of the ever-contentious divide will passionately argue that the statistics and polls are on their side.
LISTEN: The collapse of Christianity and an epidemic of loneliness
Cheryl Chumley talks with J.P. Degance, president of Communio, on the vital impact that marriage has on family, faith and loneliness.
Israeli president says his speech to Congress highlights an ‘unbreakable bond’ despite U.S. unease
Israel’s president speaks to Congress on Wednesday in an appearance aimed at demonstrating what he calls the “unbreakable bond” between Israel and the United States, despite U.S. concerns over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul and settlement construction in the occupied West Bank.
Transgender Biden official says hormones can help children avoid ‘the wrong puberty’
Those state bans on gender-transition treatment for minors are a problem because it means children risk going through “the wrong puberty,” according to a top Biden administration health official.
Gang of House Democrats voted against condemning antisemitism
Nine House Democrats voted against a GOP-authored resolution that rejected all forms of antisemitism and says Israel is “not a racist apartheid state” following comments from Rep. Pramila Jayapal that criticized the Middle Eastern democracy.
Dylan Mulvaney flees U.S. in wake of Bud Light debacle: ‘I had to leave my country to feel safe’
Transgender social-media influencer Dylan Mulvaney ended a month-long hiatus from social media to say she had fled the U.S. to feel safe from the backlash against her partnership with Bud Light.
Virginia finalizes guidance on transgender students, rolls back some accommodations
Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration said Tuesday that it has finalized new policies on the treatment of transgender students, guidance that will direct school districts to roll back some current accommodations and increase parental notification requirements about certain discussions involving gender identity.
Next Joint Chiefs chairman must roll back divisive ‘woke’ policies in our military
The current fight over the nomination of Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff isn’t simply a fight over the leadership of our armed forces.
Union waiver allows ‘The Chosen’ to finish season 4 filming despite actors’ strike
Filming for the last two weeks of season four of “The Chosen” resumed Monday, thanks to a waiver that allows the cast to work on the streaming series about Jesus’ ministry despite the actors’ strike against Hollywood studios.
LISTEN: The ‘dangers’ to Christianity and America posed by AOC’s ‘far-leftist rot’
Listen to Cheryl Chumley and Billy Hallowell break down the dangers facing America as socialism creeps into Congress with support for AOC and “the squad.”
Court ruling for web designer may not protect others opposing same-sex weddings
The Supreme Court’s recent ruling in favor of a Christian web designer who opposed making same-sex wedding websites didn’t settle everything for religious objectors, according to legal experts who say bakers, florists and others may still have to battle in court to stay out of LGBTQ celebrations.
Iowa evangelical Bob Vander Plaats: Voters ready to move on from Trump
A top evangelical leader in Iowa thinks voters are ready to “turn the page” from former President Donald Trump.
Goodbye ‘wife,’ hello ‘spouse’: House Democrat’s bill seeks to abolish ‘gendered’ terms
First it was “mothers” and “pregnant women,” and now Democrats are targeting another two sex-based words: “husband” and “wife.”
Transgender cyclists infuriated by ban on male-born athletes in women’s racing
Male-born cyclists racking up wins on the women’s circuit were steamed over the international sports body’s newly unveiled restrictions on transgender participation.
Abortion in Iowa is legal again, for now, after a judge blocks new restrictions
An Iowa judge on Monday temporarily blocked the state’s new ban on most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, just days after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the measure into law.
Pramila Jayapal gets pummeled by Jewish Democrats, tries to soften anti-Israel comments
Democrats on Monday scolded one of their own, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, in a scramble to smooth over her anti-Israel rhetoric ahead of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s address to Congress this week.
Gov. DeSantis woos Christian conservatives with pro-Israel message
Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed Monday that if he is elected president he will “never waver” in his support for Israel, and pledged to take a hard-nosed approach to a “hostile” Iranian regime.
Christian ministry coffee shop targeted for communist takedown
A coffee shop in Denver, Colorado, faces fire from local communists for supporting the biblical definition of marriage, i.e., homosexuality is a sin. More from the tolerant left.
Higher Ground: An event of ‘Biblical porportions’
The biggest faith and culture headlines from the last week, available only on Higher Ground from The Washington Times.
As secular culture spirals out of control, Christians have the best weapon at their disposal
The Bible, the literal Word of God, is full of instruction and advice on how to handle any situation that culture may throw at you and your family.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal walks back comments dubbing Israel a ‘racist state’
Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington is apologizing for calling Israel a “racist state,” saying she was trying to defuse a tense situation involving pro-Palestine protesters at a conference.
Biden names philanthropist Susie Gelman to religious freedom panel
President Joe Biden has appointed philanthropist Susie Gelman to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the White House announced Friday.
Eventbrite blasted for removing ‘Let Women Speak’ event over ‘hateful’ content
Eventbrite is facing blowback for taking down an event page for women advocating on behalf of single-sex spaces on the grounds that it violates the platform’s policy against “hateful” content.
The man who threatened to burn holy books outside the Israeli Embassy in Sweden abandons the plan
The man who said he would burn the Torah and the Bible outside the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm gave up his plan and instead held a one-person demonstration on Saturday against the burning of holy books, the media reported.
Swedish police authorize protest by man who plans to burn Torah, Bible outside Israeli Embassy
Stockholm police on Friday said they have authorized a protest this weekend by a man who has stated that he wants to burn the Torah and the Bible outside the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm.
Kentucky’s ban on gender-transition care takes effect as federal judge lifts injunction
Kentucky’s ban on gender-transition care for young transgender people was restored Friday when a federal judge lifted an injunction he issued last month that had temporarily blocked the restrictions.
Detroit-area HR commissioners ousted after flying LGBTQ+ flag in violation of new ban
Two members of a Detroit-area human relations commission have been removed for raising a LGBTQ+ flag on a publicly owned flagpole that city officials said violated a recently passed resolution.
Mississippi, under judge’s order, starts allowing religious exemptions for childhood vaccinations
Mississippi is starting the court-ordered process of letting people cite religious beliefs to seek exemptions from state-mandated vaccinations that children must receive before attending day care or school.
Disney is asking a judge to toss a lawsuit from DeSantis appointees
Disney is asking a Florida judge on Friday to toss out a lawsuit against the company’s efforts to neutralize a takeover of Disney World’s governing district by Gov. Ron DeSantis and his appointees.
Iowa’s restrictive abortion measure faces legal challenge as governor prepares to sign it into law
An Iowa judge on Friday afternoon will consider a request to postpone the state’s new ban on most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, just as Gov. Kim Reynolds is scheduled to sign the measure into law in front of 2,000 conservative Christians barely a mile away.
Online, ‘unalive’ means death or suicide. Experts say it might help kids discuss those things
When Emily Litman was in middle school, kids whose parents grounded them would blithely lament: “I just want to die.” Now she’s a middle school teacher in New Jersey, and when her students’ phones and TikTok access are taken away, their out-loud whining has a 21st-century digital twist: “I feel so unalive.”
Same-sex marriage grounds for firing Catholic school’s guidance counselor, appeals court says
A Catholic high school in Indianapolis, Indiana, retained the right to fire a school guidance counselor whose same-sex marriage violated the school’s employment contract and church teachings, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.
Support builds for teen who says she was booted off swim team for protesting male in locker room
Some girls would be afraid to object to sharing a locker room with a biological male over fear of being labeled a transphobe, but not Abbigail Wheeler.
Republicans add several Freedom Caucus-penned amendments to the must-pass NDAA
House Republicans added a slate of partisan provisions Thursday to the annual Pentagon policy bill, including reversing a military abortion policy, likely forcing the narrow GOP majority to pass the bill without Democratic votes.
FDA approves first over-the-counter birth control pill amid pressure over reproductive rights
The Food and Drug Administration approved Thursday the first over-the-counter birth control pill as concerns about cost, health hazards and correct usage take a back seat to reproductive rights after the fall of Roe v. Wade.
Viewer-sponsored ‘Sound of Freedom’ flick stirs box-office revolution, say observers
It’s a classic cinematic setup: A scrappy underdog challenges an undisputed champ and scores a surprise victory. But this particular movie plotline pits Hollywood’s studio system against a small film distributor in Provo, Utah.
‘Blessing from God’: Presidential hopeful Tim Scott’s faith-filled case for the White House
Watch the exclusive interview with South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott as he discusses his faith and how that’s impacting his bid for president.
‘No religious freedom in China,’ exiled Christian pastor tells House committee
A Chinese pastor who led more than 60 members of his Presbyterian congregation in southwestern China to asylum in the United States told members of Congress Wednesday “there is no religious freedom” in the communist superpower.
Media’s attacks on ‘Sound of Freedom’ squander rare opportunity to shed light on modern-day slavery
There’s plenty to be disturbed about when it comes to some media outlets’ dismissive — and damaging — reactions to the sleeper summer film hit “The Sound of Freedom.”
Running on faith: Mike Pence follows his Christian ‘North Star’ in presidential race
Former Vice President Mike Pence has faith in his faith. He is sticking with the motto “I am a Christian, conservative and a Republican, in that order” for the 2024 Republican presidential race. He is rolling it into a broader message centered on restoring America’s belief in God and “bringing back humility and faith to our nation’s capital.”
CNN apologizes for using wrong pronoun in segment that referred to trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney
CNN has issued an apology for using male pronouns to refer to transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney after a backlash from the left.
FBI chief Wray refuses to tell Congress who authorized memo targeting Catholics
FBI Director Christopher A. Wray declined to tell Congress who authored and approved a memo encouraging agents to develop sources inside Catholic parishes across the country as part of its efforts to crack down on domestic terrorism.
Tim Scott calls on America to turn back to God in new Iowa ad
Republican presidential hopeful Tim Scott is making the case in a new television ad running in Iowa that the United States will be a stronger nation if its elected leaders put more “faith in God” and in the “values embedded in the Gospel.”
Iowa Republicans pass bill banning most abortions after about 6 weeks; governor to sign on Friday
Iowa’s Republican-led Legislature passed a bill banning most abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy during a marathon special session Tuesday that continued late into the night. Gov. Kim Reynolds immediately said in a statement she would sign the bill on Friday.
Ask Dr. E: Questions of heaven and hell
If our God is good and generous, what will happen to the huge number of those who do good but are not Christians? It’s impossible for me to believe that a good God would simply dismiss those souls.
Greg Laurie: We’re in a battle over the soul of America
Will our nation recover from this moral death spiral we seem to find ourselves in?
Olympic medalist: Transgender women in women’s sports ‘10 times worse’ than East German doping
Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies competed against steroid-juiced East German women at the height of the Cold War doping era, but she says the current influx of biological males in women’s sports is even more unfair.
Beyond cash: California reparations task force’s report stuffed with leftist goodies
Paying cash to descendants of enslaved people is just the beginning of the California Reparations Task Force’s ambitious progressive vision.
LISTEN: Free speech is a God-given right
The left is indoctrinating an entire generation of citizens about what free speech actually is. Is it too late to rollback this woke ideology?
Riley Gaines blasts Megan Rapinoe for ‘virtue-signaling’ on male-born athletes in women’s sports
Megan Rapinoe insists that she would welcome male-born transgender players in women’s soccer, but Riley Gaines is having none of it.
Social contagion? Nearly 40% of Brown University students identify as LGBTQ+
Straight students may soon be able to claim minority status at Brown University if the trend continues.
Thousands of Black churches could face Southern Baptist Convention expulsion over women pastors
As many as 4,000 Black churches with women pastors could be kicked out of the Southern Baptist Convention under the denomination’s new rules, warns the Rev. Gregory Perkins.
Faith and the future of America: Presidential hopeful Tim Scott shares his vision for the country
Sen. Tim Scott, South Carolina Republican and 2024 GOP presidential candidate, talks with Higher Ground’s Billy Hallowell about his upbringing and how faith shaped his worldview.
Study points to worse mental health outcomes for women who have abortions versus giving birth
Most blue states have laws allowing post-viability abortions to protect the woman’s mental health, but a newly released report suggests that such procedures are making things worse, not better.
