Human Race: Scriptural defense

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson sparked backlash for citing Scripture in a detailed defense of U.S. immigration enforcement in response to concern from Pope Leo XIV. Leo, the first American pope, had called U.S. citizens to “deep reflection” about how they are treating immigrants in light of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:35: “​​I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” After Migrant Insider editor Pablo Manríquez posed this critique, Johnson made the case “borders and walls are biblical,” and later posted a lengthy rationale to his X feed. Johnson argued scriptural admonitions to welcome sojourners were given to individuals, while it is the responsibility of the civil government to maintain order and protect its citizens. This exchange comes as the relationship between the new pontiff and President Donald Trump remains as yet ill-defined. The two Americans have not yet met, and Leo’s office recently announced the pope will not visit his home country this year. Many top officials in the Trump administration are Catholic, including Vice President JD Vance, and Trump won a majority of the Catholic vote in 2024. However, the White House and the Vatican have diverged on other key policy issues, including the United Nations, the war in Ukraine, and in vitro fertilization.

Life in prison

The 59-year-old man convicted of planning to assassinate President Donald Trump will spend the rest of his life in prison. Secret Service agents found Ryan Routh waiting with a loaded semi-automatic rifle near the sixth hole of the then-­candidate’s West Palm Beach golf course in September 2024, according to prosecutors. A jury convicted Routh, after a two-week trial in September 2025, during which the would-be assassin represented himself. The court handed down his life sentence on Feb. 4. Routh will serve his sentence without the chance of parole. The court tacked on an additional seven years for a felony gun charge. —Christina Grube

Just in time

Sanitation worker Doug Haiko stopped long enough on his route to save an 18-month-old boy from choking. The Vernon, Conn., garbage-truck driver pulled over after seeing a woman in distress beside a parked car. He found the child’s face was turning blue, and forcefully patted him on his back long enough for a small toy to pop out. Haiko then wrapped the boy in his own coat until the ambulance he called for on his radio arrived. “We should all know CPR and the Heimlich,” Haiko said after the town of Vernon’s elected leaders honored him during their Feb. 3 council meeting. —Todd Vician

Harm done

Respected Houston transplant surgeon John Stevenson Bynon Jr. faces charges of falsifying his patients’ medical records to prevent them from getting vital liver transplants. According to a Feb. 5 indictment, families spent months waiting and hoping for organ donations without realizing Bynon had tampered with their paperwork. Three patients died, while two others switched hospitals and eventually received transplants. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Houston charged Bynon with five counts of making false statements in healthcare matters, allegations that could come with a five-year federal prison sentence and over $1 million in fines. Prosecutors have not yet provided a possible motive for Bynon’s alleged actions. —Grace Snell

Budget target

A Maryland man is facing attempted murder charges after he showed up at Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought’s Northern Virginia home wearing a surgical mask and gloves. Colin Demarco, 26, is due to appear in court on Feb. 23. Federal law enforcement agents uncovered Demarco’s previous claims that he was writing a manifesto and notes detailing weapons and a “body disposal guide.” A Ring doorbell camera captured Demarco at the front door of Vought’s home on Aug. 10, according to the criminal complaint. Demarco was arrested on Jan. 22 by the Arlington County Police. He was also charged with carrying a firearm without a permit and unlawfully wearing a mask. —Mary Jackson

Family hero

Media outlets in Australia hailed 13-year old Austin Appelbee as a real-life hero on Feb. 4 when he detailed his dramatic 2.5 mile swim to save his stranded family, a feat described as “superhuman.” The Australian boy, his mother, and two siblings were using an inflatable kayak and paddleboards at a beach near Quindalup when wind swept them out to sea. With his kayak taking on water, Appelbee set out alone for shore, eventually abandoning both the kayak and a life jacket he said slowed his swimming. He reached land around 6 p.m., some four hours after he began. A search helicopter located his mother and siblings more than two hours later. None of the family members required hospitalization. —Kim Henderson

Off the court

Charles Bediako’s return to college basketball was sidelined Feb. 9 after five games when an Alabama judge denied his request to play while his suit against the NCAA continues. The 23-year-old University of Alabama center left the Crimson Tide in 2023 after two seasons and played in the NBA’s developmental league. The NCAA denied Bediako’s January request to return, saying his two years playing professionally exhausted his athletic eligibility. Bediako countered he didn’t appear in an NBA game and the NCAA selectively enforces eligibility since dozens of college hoopsters have played professionally, mostly in international leagues. The NCAA feared more pros would return if Bediako won. —Todd Vician

Judge charged

A Detroit judge and three other defendants were charged on Jan. 30 for conspiring to steal from people who require court-appointed guardians. Nancy Williams owned Guardian and Associates, a fiduciary appointed by the Wayne County Probate Court for incapacitated people in over 1,000 cases. Judge Andrea Bradley-Baskin and her father Avery Bradley operated a law firm in the probate court that often represented Guardian and Associates. And Dwight Rashad ran multiple care homes for the elderly, some of whom had court-appointed guardians. According to the IRS, the defendants “conspired to systematically embezzle funds from wards” to a tune of more than $270,000. Bradley-Baskin has been taken off her docket, and the case awaits a full IRS investigation. —Bekah Bernhardt