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A Trump backed prayer festival took place in D.C. humidity and record heat is about to hit the Eastern US and we'll meet a woman who keeps beating men at America's most punishing running events. That's some of what we'll get to on the 7 from the Washington Post, I'm Izin Akabowl in for Hannah jaw. It's Monday, May 18th. Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories. Number one, a crowd of thousands transformed a block of the National Mall into an evangelical style worship Service. Yesterday's Rededicate 250 event was backed by President Donald Trump and funded with millions of taxpayer dollars. In an eight hour lineup, speakers, including top government officials, framed America as a country founded to be explicitly Christian. House Speaker Mike Johnson preached about how America faces a new set of challenges in a new era, claiming that, quote, sinister ideologies sow confusion and discord among our people.
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These voices insist to the young and impressionable that our story, the American story, is one of oppression and hypocrisy and failure, and that this story can only be understood through the lens of our sins. But Father, we reject that. We rebuke it.
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Trump, who is not known for quoting the Bible, read in a pre taped video a passage from scripture in which God promises to heal the ancient Israelites if they agree to pray and humble themselves before God.
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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
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The verses are often cited by those who believe America was founded as a Christian nation. Until Trump's second term in office, it was virtually Unheard of For U.S. officials to publicly tie the nation to a specific set of religious beliefs. Trump's Cabinet members have changed that norm. President Trump plans to build a helipad at the White House. That's number two. For decades, US Presidents have stood, waved and boarded Marine One as they prepared to depart the South Lawn of the White House. Now Trump is planning to alter that iconic image by building a permanent helipad, perhaps as early as this summer. Unlike some other Trump construction projects, the helipad idea is one that has been under discussion for years. It's viewed by some as an overdue solution to a years old problem. The new generation of Marine One helicopters run the risk of burning the lawn. People with knowledge of the plans caution that like other Trump ideas, the helipad proposal could change before a formal announcement. Number three the US Job Market is stuck and frustrating millions of people the US Job market is fairly stable, but it certainly doesn't feel that way to most job seekers. The market is slow, especially compared to the rocketing growth that followed COVID 19 pandemic shutdowns. Hiring is stagnant, the labour force is shrinking, and workers who would like to find a new position are nervous to quit their jobs. Yet the job market is not in a crisis, it's just stalled. That feels bad for millions who are trying to advance their careers or keep paychecks rolling in. In our newsletter today you can find seven charts that show why the job market is stuck. One key statistic is that there is roughly one job opening for each unemployed person searching for work. That's a steep drop from four years ago, and it doesn't include all the people who have jobs and are hunting for new ones. You can find all the charts in our newsletter. Just follow the link in our show. Notes Number 4Americans may have been exposed in an Ebola outbreak in Central Africa Yesterday, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. A handful of Americans may have been exposed to Ebola in the unusually large outbreak, according to two Post sources. The group of Americans, which includes a family with children, have been working for a nonprofit in Congo's eastern region. At least one person with symptoms may have to be medically evacuated and could be quarantined and treated in the U.S. however, the public health risk to Americans remains low. Number five High humidity and record heat is about to make it feel like July in eastern states. The season's first widespread surge of humid air, along with record heat, is spreading from the Midwest to the Northeast and Mid Atlantic. More than 100 million people can expect high temperatures in the 90s and increasingly muggy conditions through Wednesday. Extra humidity will also cause record warmth at night, with around 156 such records predicted to be neared tide or broken this week. That includes a July like forecast low of 76 degrees in New York and 73 degrees in D.C. tomorrow night. And more humid weather is on the way. This summer, there's a sustained long term upward trend in summertime humidity. That's because warmer air can hold more water vapor, which means a warmer world is a more humid one. Number six Head and Neck Cancers Are on the Rise Every year in the US there are about 60,000 new diagnoses of head and neck cancers worldwide. Cases are expected to increase 30% by 2030. If you want to reduce your risk, you can do a few things. You can Traditionally using tobacco is linked to these cancers and heavy drinking is another factor, so it's worth avoiding alcohol and smoking. But there's another thing that can elevate your risk, which helps explain why head and neck cancer rates are increasing even though less people in the US smoke and drink. HPV, the sexually transmitted virus, accounts for about 30% of oropharyngeal cancers worldwide. To prevent the most common types of hpv, the best thing is to be vaccinated against the virus twice as a child. That's because the vaccine is less beneficial after a person has already been exposed to hpv. And at number seven, a woman keeps beating men at America's most punishing running events. Rachel Entrekin completed one of America's most challenging ultramarathons this month. Cocodona is a 250 mile race that starts in the Sonoran Desert and is known for breaking athletes will. The 34 year old broke the course record by seven hours and beat every man and woman in the field. To give you an idea of just how difficult the course is, it includes miles of painful ascents and descents. Runners also commonly start hallucinating due to a lack of sleep and tragically, a female competitor died this year after a medical emergency in the race. Entrekin has won or placed in about 100 ultramarathons and she's a big lover of carbs. So if you wanted a good reason to eat lots of mashed potatoes today, she calls them the unsung heroes of ultrarunning. Alright, you're all caught up. If you like the podcast, a great way to support our work is through a subscription to the Washington Post. Right now you can get a core subscription for just $4 every four weeks for the first six months. After that, it's $14 every four weeks. You can cancel at any time. Subscribe to the Post by going to washingtonpost.com subscribe I'm Izin Akabawu. I'll meet you back here tomorrow.
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Episode: Trump-backed Prayer Festival; Heat and Humidity Forecast; Reducing Your Head Cancer Risk; and More
Date: May 18, 2026
Host: Izin Akabawu (in for Hannah Jewell)
This episode delivers a concise roundup of the seven most critical and intriguing news stories of the day, covering topics from a Trump-backed prayer festival on the National Mall, exceptional heat and humidity forecasts, and the rise of head and neck cancers, to an inspiring ultramarathon victory by Rachel Entrekin. The host weaves in sharp reporting, brief analysis, and highlights that inform and energize listeners for the week ahead.
[00:32 - 02:25]
“These voices insist to the young and impressionable that our story, the American story, is one of oppression and hypocrisy and failure... But Father, we reject that. We rebuke it.” (01:36, Mike Johnson)
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (02:08, Donald Trump)
[02:25 - 02:59]
[02:59 - 03:43]
[03:43 - 04:21]
[04:21 - 05:40]
[05:40 - 06:43]
[06:43 - 07:49]
“Mashed potatoes... the unsung heroes of ultrarunning.” (07:30, paraphrased from host reporting Entrekin's view)
"These voices insist to the young and impressionable that our story... is one of oppression and hypocrisy and failure... But Father, we reject that. We rebuke it."
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray... then will I hear from heaven... and will heal their land.”
“A warmer world is a more humid one.” (05:25, B)
The host maintains a brisk, informative, and slightly conversational tone, blending sober reporting with occasional light-heartedness (e.g., on ultrarunning and mashed potatoes). The language is clear, journalistic, and accessible to a broad audience.
This episode gives listeners a sharp, multidimensional view of emerging trends and news, with both urgent and uplifting stories—crucial for anyone wanting to stay informed in under ten minutes.