In a significant development, House Republicans voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress, highlighting a growing tension between the legislative and executive branches. The measure passed by a narrow margin of 216-207, with Republicans demanding the release of audio recordings of President Biden's interview with special counsel Robert Hur regarding his handling of classified documents.

The audio recordings have become a point of contention as Republicans seek to assess special counsel Hur's evaluation of President Biden's memory and determine whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) is engaging in a selective application of justice by refusing to indict the President. In response, Attorney General Garland expressed disappointment, stating that Congress had turned a serious congressional authority into a partisan weapon.

Turning to international affairs, the United States has piled on new sanctions against Russia ahead of the G7 summit set to commence in Italy tomorrow. The sanctions specifically target Chinese companies that have been aiding Russia's involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, as well as institutions engaged in business transactions with Russian entities facing sanctions. This latest set of sanctions, comprising more than 300 measures, will affect trade worth over $100 million between Russia and its war-related suppliers.

At the G7 summit, leaders are expected to discuss the conversion of frozen Russian assets into direct aid for Ukraine, further intensifying pressure on Russia. In response to the increasing sanctions, Russia has dispatched naval vessels, including a nuclear-powered submarine, to engage in exercises near Cuba. While the port calls and exercises are labeled as routine by a spokesperson from the U.S. State Department, they highlight the escalating tensions between Moscow and Washington, particularly due to U.S. support for Ukraine.

In a closely watched decision, the Southern Baptist Convention narrowly rejected a measure to include in its Constitution a ban on churches with women pastors. However, it fell just short of the required two-thirds supermajority needed for passage. This outcome reverses a preliminary vote held last year, which initially favored the ban. Despite the rejection, proponents of the measure argued that the denomination's official doctrine already limits the role of pastorship to men and that existing mechanisms are sufficient to address the issue.

As events unfold on the political, diplomatic, and religious fronts, the respective entities involved are navigating challenges and grappling with evolving dynamics, underscoring the complex and interconnected nature of global affairs.