26 DEC 25 SITREP

1. West Virginia Food Dye Law And Federal Court Ruling

• A federal judge blocked West Virginia’s law banning certain dyes and additives in foods sold in the state as the case against it moves forward.
• HB 2354 classifies food, drink, confectionery, or condiment as adulterated if it contains any added substance deemed poisonous or injurious to health, including butylated hydroxyanisole, propylparaben, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Blue No. 2, FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, and FD&C Yellow No. 6, with misdemeanor penalties, fines up to $500, or jail time up to one year, and it also bans these color additives in school nutrition program meals.
• The court rejected claims that the law violated the Equal Protection Clause and rejected claims that it was a bill of attainder, finding a rational basis tied to protecting the health and safety of the public.
• The court sided with the challenge on vagueness, ruling that the undefined phrase poisonous and injurious and the use of the word including create a nonexclusive list that allows arbitrary enforcement without clear criteria.

2. Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Panders To Somali Community

• Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan wore a hijab while appearing on a local Somali television station at a shopping mall and opened her remarks with the Islamic greeting “Asalamalekun,” meaning peace be upon you.
• Continuing the charade, she said the Somali community is part of the fabric of Minnesota, cited a 25 year friendship with Somali activist Nimco Ahmed, encouraged people to shop at Somali owned businesses, and said immigrants are scared right now.
• She called the more than $9 billion in fraud committed by members of the Somali community against Minnesota and the federal government unconscionable, said those responsible should be prosecuted, and pointed to actions taken by Governor Tim Walz and state agencies after the fraud occurred.
• While discussing her Senate campaign, Flanagan said she is running to fight President Trump, called him the real problem, supported reducing prior authorization requirements in health care, and supported providing sex changes for children.

3. Pope Leo XIV’s Opposition To Illinois Government-Assisted Suicide Law

• Illinois approved Deb’s Law, which allows government-assisted suicide for individuals with terminal illnesses under medical care.
• Pope Leo XIV said he was very disappointed, stated that he spoke explicitly with the governor asking him not to sign the bill, and emphasized respect for human life from conception to natural death.
• Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich and all six Catholic dioceses in Illinois also asked the governor not to sign the bill, warning it places the state on a dangerous and heartbreaking path.
• Supporters argued that those with terminal conditions should be able to decide when their lives end, while Illinois joined multiple states and Canada where government-assisted suicide is legal.

FINAL WORD

Across these developments, courts, state governments, and religious authorities are shaping outcomes in public health regulation, immigration related political engagement, and end of life policy. Legal standards, political signaling, and moral objections are colliding as governments expand or restrain their role in deeply personal decisions. The direction of these issues will continue to be determined through litigation, legislation, and political accountability.