It’s Monday, February 23rd, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)

By Adam McManus

Utah teacher forces student to wash off Ash Wednesday cross

A Utah elementary school faced backlash after a teacher told a Catholic student to remove an Ash Wednesday cross from his forehead, a symbol marking the beginning of Lent, reports WHSV TV.

Fourth-grader William McLeod had attended church on Ash Wednesday and arrived at Valley View Elementary School in Bountiful, Utah wearing a traditional ash cross. He said classmates initially questioned him about it, unaware that the ash cross marked the beginning of Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness before the beginning of His three-year ministry.

The boy recalled his teacher asking, “What is that?” He replied, “It’s Ash Wednesday. It’s the first day of Lent.” She said, “No, it’s inappropriate. Go take it off.” In front of his peers, she gave the child a wipe and told him to clean his forehead.

McLeod said, “I felt really bad.” His grandmother said he was embarrassed and upset, saying he later went to see the school psychologist “crying.”

The Davis School District issued a formal apology, saying the teacher’s actions were unacceptable. A spokesman said, “No student should ever be asked or required to remove an ash cross from his or her forehead.” The teacher later apologized.

Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against Trump tariffs

On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, striking down a central part of his economic agenda, reports The Western Journal.

TRUMP: “The Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs is deeply disappointing. I'm ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed, for not having the courage to do what's right for our country.”

The case focused on tariffs President Trump imposed under a 1977 emergency powers law known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. He used that law to impose reciprocal tariffs on most countries beginning last year.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act “does not authorize the President to impose tariffs.” Associate Justice Amy Barrett and Neil Gorsuch sided with Roberts and the court’s three liberals.

However, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented, reports the Associated Press.

President Trump imposes new tariff using different authority

On Truth Social, President Trump wrote, “I would like to thank and congratulate Justices Thomas, Alito, and Kavanaugh for your strength, wisdom, and love of our country, which is right now very proud of you.

“When you read the dissenting opinions, there is no way that anyone can argue against them. Foreign Countries that have been ripping us off for years are ecstatic, and dancing in the streets — But they won’t be dancing for long!”

Kavanaugh wrote, “The decision might not substantially constrain a President's ability to order tariffs going forward. That is because numerous other federal statutes authorize the President to impose tariffs and might justify most (if not all) of the tariffs issued in this case. ... Those statutes include, for example, the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (Section 232); the Trade Act of 1974 (Sections 122, 201, and 301); and the Tariff Act of 1930 (Section 338).”

TRUMP: “Other alternatives will now be used to replace the ones that the court incorrectly rejected. Great alternatives. Could be more money. We'll take in more money.”

Inspired by Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s dissent, President Trump imposed a new 10% global tariff the same day of the Supreme Court decision last Friday, using Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, reports NewsNation.

GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales had affair with aide who set herself on fire

U.S. Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales of Texas engaged in a romantic relationship with an aide who died last year by setting herself on fire outside her Uvalde home, according to a text message and people close to the aide and her family, reports the San Antonio Express-News.

Both she and Gonzales were married to other people at the time of the alleged affair.

A former staffer in Gonzales' district office, who worked closely with the aide, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, said she told him they had an affair in 2024, and that she spiraled into a depression after her husband discovered the relationship and Gonzales abruptly ended their affair.

Exodus 20:14 says, “You shall not commit adultery.”

He also shared with the San Antonio Express-News a screenshot of a text message from Regina in which she acknowledged having an “affair with our boss.”

The staffer, who asked not to be named, citing a fear of retaliation, faulted Gonzales' office for failing to intervene, saying he warned the congressman's district director months before Regina’s fiery suicide that he was concerned about her well-being. He described her as his “best friend” and said their families knew each other.

Gonzales, a Republican representing Texas' 23rd Congressional District, is currently seeking re-election in a contested primary. The San Antonio Express-News, which had initially endorsed Gonzales in the March 3rd Republican primary, recently withdrew its endorsement.

In the Republican Primary for Congress in District 23, many South Texans are looking to support Francisco “Quico” Canseco during early voting or on Election Day, Tuesday, March 3rd.

Texas bobsled gold medalist almost quit

And finally,

(audio of Olympics theme song)

It was a couple of weeks before Christmas. Elana Meyers Taylor