Good morning, everyone. As tradition holds, every Sunday morning we begin with good news only. In a world overflowing with chaos, noise, and destruction, it’s easy to lose sight of the light. The real, tangible good still exists and deserves to be celebrated. That’s exactly what we do here. We remind ourselves and each other that hope is not gone, that truth still matters, and that good news still has a place.
Here’s mine: For another week, this platform stands as the #5 most-watched news platform in the world. We have surpassed MSNBC, CBS, CNN, ABC, and more, all without the corporate budgets, the polished propaganda, or the endless armies of producers. Just real people telling real stories that matter.
If you believe in what we’re building, independent journalism that cuts through the noise and reaches millions of Americans in a truthful way, subscribe today and help us keep pushing forward. The momentum is real. Let’s keep it going.
And one more piece of good news from my end: this week, we raised over $11,000 for the Capital Food Bank in Washington, D.C. to support families who rely on SNAP and food assistance. We did that together.
Now it’s your turn. Drop one piece of good news from your week in the comments. Big or small, it all counts. Let’s remind each other that there’s still so much to be thankful for, and that the light still wins when we choose to see it.
Here’s more stories you missedL
A touching viral moment from TODAY.com shows Sean Nguyen, a college student at UC Davis, surprising his Iranian friend Ernika Rabiei with homemade shirini danmarki, a nostalgic pastry from her childhood. Having never been to Iran, Nguyen researched recipes in Farsi and perfected the dessert, leaving Rabiei tearfully moved and “feeling like a little girl in Iran again.” The video, which has millions of views, resonated with audiences for its simple act of friendship and cross-cultural kindness — a heartfelt reminder, as Nguyen said, that “anyone can do things like this to show love.”
Students at Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School in New York surprised their principal, Brianna Lanoye, by transforming the school courtyard into a mock wedding so all her students could “attend”; with a student officiant, candy rings, and heartfelt speeches, the event moved Lanoye to “instant tears,” calling it one of the most touching moments of her life.
Kentucky Teacher of the Year Scott Johnson used his school’s 3D printing lab to design and build a lightweight, functional prosthetic hand for student Jackson Farmer, born without a right hand; made from $20–$30 in simple materials like corn-based bioplastic and fishing line, the hand lets Jackson grasp and write, and he now has the files to print replacements himself.
A large Australian study found that hope—defined as determination to make things better, not just optimism—is the strongest emotional predictor of long-term success, linking higher hope levels to better health, education, employment, and social outcomes; hopeful people were more resilient, less lonely, and healthier, suggesting fostering hope could improve both individual wellbeing and public policy results.
Amid the ongoing government shutdown delaying SNAP benefits, Portland’s nonprofit Heretic Coffee Shop raised over $87,000 (eventually surpassing $100,000) in donations to help feed affected families, with owner Josh White praising the outpouring of community support as proof that “when the system fails us, it’s on everyday people to take care of each other.”
A new international clinical trial has found that the experimental drug amivantamab can shrink head and neck tumors within six weeks and halt disease progression in most patients whose cancer returned after previous treatments. The triple-action therapy, unveiled at a Berlin oncology conference, blocks two key cancer pathways and boosts immune response—offering what researchers call an “incredibly encouraging” breakthrough for one of the hardest-to-treat cancers.
A two-year-old girl who went missing in freezing New Hampshire woods was found safe after a volunteer and his German shepherd, Freyja, tracked her for hours in near darkness. The rescue team of 90 people had searched for hours before Freyja followed the child’s scent to her location, reuniting her with rescuers just as temperatures neared 20°F.
Nine-year-old Stephen Mondek from California saved his father’s life by donating stem cells to treat his recurring leukemia after no other donor match could be found. Doctors at Cedars-Sinai say the transplant from the young half-match donor was remarkably successful, and Stephen’s father now calls his son both his hero and his lifesaver.
In England, 65-year-old Denise Bacon, a Parkinson’s patient from East Sussex, played her clarinet during brain surgery as doctors performed a deep-brain stimulation procedure at King’s College Hospital. The operation, done under local anesthesia, successfully restored fine motor control in her hand — allowing her to play music for the first time in five years — and she’s now regaining her ability to walk, swim, and dance.
Ten-year-old Poppy O’Malley-Flack from Kent, England, was invited to join Mensa after a dyslexia assessment unexpectedly revealed an IQ of 136, placing her in the top 1% nationwide. Though she struggles with spelling, the test showed exceptional reasoning and problem-solving skills; her parents say the discovery highlights how learning differences and giftedness can coexist, and Poppy now hopes to pursue a future in science or the arts.
A family in Hampshire, England, discovered 69 rare gold Tudor coins buried in their backyard—one of the most significant treasure finds in decades. The “New Forest Hoard,” featuring coins from the reigns of Henry VI through Henry VIII, is valued at over $300,000 and will be auctioned in November, with experts believing it was buried during the English Reformation to hide church wealth.
In northern Sri Lanka, the British nonprofit HALO Trust has cleared its 300,000th landmine, making 120 square kilometers of former war zones safe and enabling over 280,000 displaced residents to return home. The milestone, achieved after 16 years of work following Sri Lanka’s civil war, represents a major humanitarian and economic recovery step, reopening land for farming and tourism while saving countless lives.
China’s Ming Yang Smart Energy has unveiled plans for a groundbreaking two-headed offshore wind turbine, the OceanX, capable of generating 50 megawatts—enough to power 30,000 homes annually—by using counter-rotating blades on dual rotors. The firm, already a global leader in offshore wind, says the next-generation model will cut offshore energy costs to one-fifth of Europe’s while potentially reducing environmental impacts by allowing wind farms to operate with fewer, more powerful turbines.
On Palau’s Ulong Island, conservationists have successfully eradicated invasive rats, leading to a dramatic rebound of native wildlife — especially the Endangered Palau ground dove, which is now thriving and breeding again. The 2023–24 restoration, led by Island Conservation and local authorities, restored ecological balance, boosted seabird populations, and inspired renewed cultural and eco-tourism appreciation, marking Ulong as a model of Pacific island recovery and resilience.
Natalie Grabow, an 80-year-old grandmother from New Jersey who only learned to swim at 59, became the oldest woman ever to finish the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii — completing the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile marathon in 16 hours and 45 minutes. Her story of perseverance and late-blooming athleticism has inspired many, showing it’s never too late to chase new dreams.
Amid the month-long government shutdown and suspended SNAP benefits, Portland’s nonprofit Heretic Coffee Shop raised over $100,000 in donations to help feed affected families — a grassroots effort owner Josh White called proof that “when the system fails us, everyday people take care of each other.”
Archaeologists uncovered a massive 2,300-year-old stone-lined water basin in the ancient Roman town of Gabii, Italy — built centuries before concrete — revealing advanced pre-Roman engineering that used stacked stones and natural slopes for durability and drainage, suggesting both practical and possibly ceremonial purposes.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
