Starting off this week’s newsletter is the battle over congressional bathroom use. The fight started Monday when Rep. Nancy Mace introduced a resolution to prohibit transgender women from using female bathrooms at the Capitol.

The move by the South Carolina Republican — which has sparked no shortage of controversy — comes as Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, Delaware Democrat, 34, will become the first openly transgender member of Congress in January. House Speaker Mike Johnson openly supported Ms. Mace and then later announced his decision to limit bathrooms to biological sex. Here’s his explanation. 

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The culture wars

A coalition of pro-life organizations, a church and Christian employers filed a federal lawsuit against Illinois state officials Tuesday, challenging a law that requires health insurance policies to cover elective abortions. 

A shocking new report says “the Biden-Harris Department of Education has been engaged in a long-running scheme to punish Christian colleges that are ideologically opposed to the left’s agenda.” Here’s more on the “scathing” report from the American Principles Project.

The Texas State Board of Education has approved a new curriculum that would give districts the choice to incorporate Bible teachings into public school lessons for elementary students. As you can imagine, critics will have a lot to say.

Some uplifting news

Filmmaker and “The Chosen” creator Dallas Jenkins is out with a comical and powerful new film, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” Fans love the sure-to-be holiday classic, but Mr. Jenkins’ miraculous story of getting the movie made — one hinged on prayer and trusting God — is equally as captivating. Watch him explain.

For KING + COUNTRY, one of the most popular Christian and inspirational bands around, is gearing up for the Christmas season in a big way.

There was a massive event last weekend that organizers said showed “a powerful display of Jewish resilience and unity,” as more than 2,000 Jewish college students from 176 universities across eight countries gathered in Brooklyn for “Pegisha,” meaning “encounter,” the world’s largest Jewish student Shabbat celebration. 

Here’s more on the three-day, record-setting event — one that offered inspiration to those participating.

Other important headlines

If you’re concerned about where people are getting their news and information, consider that about one in five adults in the U.S. just admitted they regularly get their news from social media influencers. Here’s more on the Pew Research Center report.

It looks like Pope Francis is set to deliver up the first-ever Millennial saint. More here.

As war between Russia and Ukraine heats up, Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan-Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, is speaking out about the religious elements at the center of the dispute. Watch Archbishop Gudziak tell The Washington Times’ Higher Ground’s Billy Hallowell about the spiritual battle being waged in Ukraine.

In our opinion

As always, the opinion pages are filled was thought-provoking content:

• Mr. Hallowell explains exactly why Democrats lost the election.
• Donna Amidon explores where you can find Jesus in the Old Testament.
• Everett Piper offers a blueprint for responding to critiques of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks.
• John and Nisha Whitehead warn that the “Deep State wants to terminate the Constitution.”
• Here’s how to avoid fighting about politics at Thanksgiving.
• Jim Daly breaks down what the “unhinged election outcry” actually reveals.