Judge Rules in Favor of Christian Dad Seeking in LGBT Case

A federal judge has ruled in favor of a Massachusetts dad seeking to opt his five-year-old son out of story books depicting LGBTQ relationships, which conflict with his Christian beliefs.

Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV, of the United States Court for the District of Massachusetts, granted a preliminary injunction to the father, who is identified in court documents as “Alan L.”, in his fight against Lexington Public Schools to protect his kindergarten-aged child, Liberty Counsel reported.

According to the faith-based non-profit legal group, the father originally requested that school officials exempt his son from lessons and programs that cover issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The district denied his request, stating the opt-out was “overly broad.” Additionally, they refused to provide him with advance notice of any LGBTQ content that would be presented to the class.

“Despite his specific opt-out request, the district then exposed his child to the ‘read aloud’ video book Families, Families, Families! by Suzanne Lang depicting anthropomorphized animals with same-sex parents,” a press statement from Liberty Counsel explains.

The dad filed a lawsuit against the school with the help of the Massachusetts Liberty Legal Center and the American Center for Law and Justice against the school district, citing that his First Amendment rights were violated.

“In court, the father presented 10 books from the elementary school’s kindergarten curriculum, including All Are Welcome featuring LGBTQ+ families, Prince & Knight and Maiden & Princess telling same-sex romantic stories, and This Day in June depicting leather outfits and same-sex couples kissing,” reads a press release by Liberty Counsel.

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Millions of Iranians Committed to ‘Final Battle’ for Iran

Now in its 17th day, the fight continues by millions of Iranians to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran. Protesters are calling out for the West to help, and especially, President Trump.

Despite a nearly total Internet blackout for days, foreign militias enlisted to fight the protesters, and live ammunition on the streets, Iranians continue to fill cities throughout Iran, such as Isfahan and Tehran, with their cry for freedom and a plea to the West.

Juliana Taimoorazy, founder and president of the Iraqi Christian Relief Council, described the cry of the protesters: “Please come and help us. The next few hours are critical. Their eyes are on Israel. Their eyes are on America. They’re begging, they’re pleading with us to assist.”

Most protesters are looking for that assistance from President Trump. On Monday, the president imposed a 25-percent tariff on nations that trade with Iran, with more options on the table.

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He is scheduled to meet with advisors on Tuesday to determine the next steps for the U.S. after the State Department issued a warning for Americans in Iran to “leave now.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained, “Diplomacy is always the first option for the president. He’s told all of you last night that what you’re hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite different from the messages the administration is receiving privately, and I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages. However, with that said, the president has shown he’s unafraid to use military options, if and when he deems necessary. And nobody knows that better than Iran.”

Iran claims it is ready for talks with the U.S. based on “mutual respect,” but some warn that the regime is simply buying time to brutally crush the protests. Reports from inside the country indicate that the death toll is staggering.

Iranian-American journalist Karmel Melamed told CBN News, “My sources have been telling me it’s a slaughterhouse. There are rivers of blood. That’s what my source has been telling me, in Tehran alone,” he said, and added, “A lot of regime forces have been perched on top of buildings, and in many cases, mowing down people from above. Snipers from inside of buildings have been shooting protesters.”

The mosques, Melamed reports, have become flashpoints.

To read the full story, visit our content partners at CBN News.

Celestial Signs in 2026: Another Blood Moon, a Ring of Fire and Total Solar Eclipse

Another round of remarkable celestial signs is about to unfold in 2026 on the heels of several “blood moons” in 2025, which may hold prophetic significance relating to Israel and the Middle East.

Once again, Iran is at the center of a chaotic moment with potential global impact as hundreds of thousands of protesters take to the streets, risking their lives in a quest for freedom from the chains of the country’s brutal Islamic regime. Hundreds have already been murdered by Iranian forces, and thousands imprisoned. And there are threats that the U.S. could strike again at the heart of the regime.

Last year’s two “blood moons” came as Israel entered a final stage of its military campaign to defeat Hamas and free Gaza from its terrorist infestation. And that came on the heels of Israeli and U.S. efforts to end the Iranian nuclear threat with direct military strikes inside Iran.

With that uncertain geopolitical stage as a backdrop, the world now waits for a “ring of fire” solar eclipse that’s coming on Feb. 17, 2026, followed by a “blood moon” on March 3, 2026, culminating with a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026.

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The first of those events is a “ring of fire” eclipse in which the moon will pass between Earth and the Sun, but won’t entirely eclipse the Sun, allowing a halo of its fiery glow to still be seen. The “ring of fire,” also known as an annular solar eclipse, will mainly be visible in southern South America, Africa, and the Atlantic.

The second event, the “blood moon,” will last for nearly an hour on March 3, 2026, and will be visible across the Americas, Australia, and Asia.

The third major celestial event of this year, the total solar eclipse, will pass over the Arctic Ocean, Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal, and northern Spain.

‘A Golden Age of Solar Eclipses’: 3 Total Eclipses and 3 ‘Rings of Fire’ in 3 Years

The Feb. 17 “ring of fire” and the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse also kick off a new series of eclipses in each category. Space.com has dubbed this unusual schedule of events “a golden age of solar eclipses.”

Starting in February, we will see a cycle of three “ring of fire” eclipses within just three years, as well as a series of three total solar eclipses within those same three years.

The “rings of fire” will occur in February 2026, February 2027, and January 2028. Then, in August, we will kick off a stretch of three total solar eclipses in just 710 days. The three total eclipses will occur in August 2026, August 2027, and July 2028.

If you would like to read the full story, you can visit our content partners at CBN News.

Chris Pratt, Patricia Heaton Among Hollywood Stars Calling Followers to Biblical Daniel Fast

A-list actors Chris Pratt and Patricia Heaton are calling their followers to participate in a 21-day “Daniel Fast” prayer challenge, based on the Bible.

The fast kicked off last week through Hallow, a Catholic prayer and meditation app, and includes sessions from Pratt, Heaton, and author Jeff Cavins, reading from the Book of Daniel, as well as reflecting on aspects of fasting.

The three-week prayer challenge calls participants to abstain from things that are distracting them from their relationship with God.

Pratt took a moment to explain the significance of participating in a Daniel Fast. It includes fasting from foods like meat and sweets and replacing them with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes or beans, and water.

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The blockbuster movie star highlighted that the Book of Daniel is a “story of radical faith, courage, and learning to give up the things in our lives that are holding us back.”

“That is what this 21-day challenge is about,” he added. “I know you have something in your life that you need to give up, and I want you to join me on this 21-day challenge on Hallow…it’s going to be great.”

Heaton, meanwhile, pointed out that if people want to participate, they could give up the time they spend on their phones, money spent on “unnecessarily purchasing things,” fasting the “unkind words we speak to others, or “whatever it is that keeps us from living fully as God desires us in our lives.”

If you would like to read the full story, you can visit our content partners at CBN News.

Bible-Reading Resolutions Surge in 2026: ‘God Shows Me Something New Every Time’

While gym memberships and diet plans often top New Year’s resolution lists, a growing number of Americans are choosing a more profound goal: reading the entire Bible in a year.

If you’ve set out to do this, you’re in select company. Estimates suggest only 13-20% of Americans have completed the feat. But that number is expected to rise, as early data shows a significant surge of people committing to the challenge in 2026.

This trend is reflected in Bible sales, which rose 11% in 2025 with more than 18 million sold. Those numbers should surpass the 20-year-high reached the year prior. So many people are picking up the Bible now.

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According to Dr. Corné Bekker, Dean of Divinity at Regent University, it’s a response to cultural instability and a deep hunger for truth.

“I do think increasingly, our world is falling apart. The foundations of our society are being eroded at a record speed – and people are longing for that which is eternally true, that which is ancient, that which is unchanging,” said Dr. Bekker.

Yet planning to read scripture and finishing the Bible are two different things. Of the 2.2 million people who started a year-long plan on the YouVersion Bible App this year, it’s predicted that only 1 in 5 will finish.

As for Dr. Bekker, he’s among a select group of individuals who’ve read the Bible several hundred times, and roughly three times each year – saying each read-through brings him to a deeper reverence for God.

To read the full story, visit our content partners at CBN News.

Iran Protests Raise Questions about Regime’s Future, Middle East Stability

JERUSALEM, Israel – Growing unrest inside Iran is raising urgent questions about the regime’s future and its impact on regional security. New developments highlight how internal pressure on Tehran is colliding with warnings from the U.S. and escalating tensions involving Israel.

New intelligence reports indicate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has a contingency plan if his regime collapses. The 86-year-old cleric would flee Tehran for Moscow with his family and inner circle if security forces fail to crush the expanding protests.

The report comes as demonstrations continue to spread nationwide, marked by increasingly open defiance of the Islamic Republic itself.

Speaking with CBN News Middle East Bureau Chief Chris Mitchell, global terrorism expert Dr. Amir Hamidi emphasized that what is unfolding now is not just another wave of unrest, but is possibly a historic moment for the people of Iran.

“What we are witnessing right now is not an isolated event. It is a turning point, I think, and this is a nationwide demand to end the Islamic Republic after 47 years of repression across Iran from Tehran–it’s for the Shah to come and Iranians are chanting, ‘no to Gaza, no to Lebanon. I give my life for Iran. Along with the dictators, death to thee.’ And this is very interesting,” he stated.

Hamidi added, “We’re seeing this happening, chanting all over Iran. This is the year I think the regime will be toppled.”

As pressure mounts, Tehran is lashing out at Israel. Iran’s Foreign Minister accused Israeli leaders of stirring unrest.

To read the full story, visit our content partners at CBN News.

Dennis Prager Describes ‘Miracle’ Recovery After Severe Spinal Injury

Dennis Prager, the conservative radio host, writer, and co-founder of PragerU, shared an update on his health after suffering a fall that has left him paralyzed from the neck down, saying the key to remaining joyful in the midst of suffering is remaining grateful.

The 77-year-old gave more details about his health journey in a second interview with PragerU CEO Marissa Streit. The pair discussed a variety of topics, including faith, family, and “America’s moral crisis,” but he also touched on the “miracle” that he is living out despite being confined to a wheelchair.

“So let me give everybody an update because I really believe, as I did before, in transparency,” he began. “So I remain paralyzed. But the biggest work, in fact, virtually all the work that has been done has been to enable me to breathe better because the … nerves to my diaphragm have been severely injured.”

“In fact, a number of doctors, independently of one another, have described the fact that I am talking as a quote ‘a miracle.’ And these are not religious people. I am cognizant of how lucky I am to be able to speak,” he continued.

PragerU announced in November 2024 that the co-founder suffered a severe spinal injury at the C3 and C4 vertebrae, which affected his diaphragm and movement below his shoulders. He did not sustain any brain damage. Despite efforts last June to return on-air, Prager faced a few setbacks.

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He noted in his recent interview that even in the midst of tragedy, he is also experiencing a new level of gratitude.

“Life is a tragedy as well as a glory,” he expressed. “That gratitude is everything. Gratitude has been a large measure of what has sustained me.”

The New York native says he is grateful for the life he lived before the accident, and that his accident doesn’t dictate his outlook.

“And why would that leave? Because I had this terrible fall. Why would the gratitude be shattered? Do all those years not count? Everybody has to ask that question.”

“People who have terrible things happen go, ‘Why me?’ But they don’t go, ‘Why me’ when great things happen? ‘Why me? [I] have good health. [I] have a good marriage and good friends,'” Prager added.

He continued, “Happiness is a serious problem. And I am very grateful that I have a nature that has, as Dr. Steven Marmer put it in an interview…I have great shock absorbers.”

To read the full story, visit our content partners at CBN News.

Maduro Faces Arraignment Today on Drug Charges, Trump Says ‘We’re in Charge’

Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are set to appear today in a Manhattan federal courtroom to be charged with narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. His lawyers are expected to argue his arrest was illegal and that as a sovereign head of state, he’s immune from prosecution. Legal experts expect that argument to fail.

Operation Absolute Resolve, the joint military-law-enforcement arrest of Maduro early Saturday morning, came after the White House said the Venezuelan leader rejected several deals to step down from power.

The operation, led by Delta Force operatives, involved 150 aircraft. Maduro was reportedly captured just as he was trying to close the door on a safe room. The attack killed about 32 Cubans who make up his security forces.

One U.S. helicopter was hit but continued its mission. U.S. officials said that about half a dozen soldiers were injured in the operation.

Venezuelans around the world celebrated. But some U.S. Democratic lawmakers called the arrest of Maduro illegal.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said, “It’s a violation of the law to do what they did without getting the authorization of Congress.”

However, one unnamed House Democrat told the website Axios that fellow Democrats’ opposition to Maduro’s arrest “looks weak.” The lawmaker continued, “If you don’t acknowledge when there is a win for our country, then you lose all credibility.”

Aboard Air Force One, President Trump said the U.S. is “in charge” of Venezuela.

But it appears Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, and other officials of the Maduro administration are in control.

If you would like to read the full story, you can visit our content partners at CBN News.

Iran Protests Spread to 21 Provinces Amid Reports of IRGC Chemical, Biological Weapons Production

JERUSALEM, Israel – Iranian protests over the flailing economy are spreading as Iran is reportedly developing chemical and biological missile warheads.

Violent protests throughout Iran forced a government shutdown in 21 provinces as unrest spread over skyrocketing prices and economic collapse.

Businesses, universities, and government offices closed in response to the regime’s shutdown.

The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) showed footage online showing violent confrontations between security forces and protesters. in various provinces. Shouts of “Death to the dictator” and “Death to Khamenei” rang out, as at least seven people were killed.

The protests are the largest in Iran since 2022, when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in police custody, detained over not wearing her hijab correctly.

Israeli-Iranian actress and commentator Sarah Fakheri claims these protests are different from those in the past.

She stated, “Like, if the past protests were just ‘Death to the dictator’ or ‘Get this regime down’ without any definition of who is going to rule Iran after this one has a leader. They call for (Crown Prince Reza) Pahlavi back.”

Fakheri added that Iran has gone from being an “amazing country” with abilities and natural resources to a state where people don’t have money for bread. She contends that Iranians have been crying out for help for a long time.

If you would like to read the full story, you can visit our content partners at CBN News.

Support Grows for Imprisoned Pastor After Son Speaks at AMFEST

Support is growing for a South Korean pastor whose imprisonment has raised renewed concerns about religious freedom in the country.

Hyun-bo Son, a Korean pastor known for his outspoken stance on biblical teachings, remains jailed on election law charges. His case gained fresh international attention recently after his son, Chance Son, spoke in Arizona at Turning Point USA’s AMFEST, sharing his father’s story with thousands of attendees.

Chance Son described the experience as “overwhelming,” saying the response showed a rising awareness among American Christians about the stakes involved.

“Firstly, I would like to thank CBN News for covering my father’s news when it was most needed,” Son told CBN News in a Zoom interview. “That’s when I believe a lot of Christians in the States especially started to pick up the news about my father’s story. This is a great opportunity for Americans themselves to realize what’s at stake and what we are to do as brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Pastor Son’s arrest has drawn scrutiny from faith leaders and advocacy groups who say his prosecution reflects increasing pressure on Christians who speak publicly about biblical values. In response, the organization Advocates for Faith and Freedom has launched a petition calling for a fair legal process in Pastor Son’s case.

If you would like to read the full story, you can visit our content partners at CBN News.