The Pour Over Today - A Deadly Earthquake, Rulings on Trump Policies, VP Vance in Greenland, & More | 03.31.25

Episode Date: March 31, 2025

Today, we’re talking about a deadly earthquake in Myanmar; a number of rulings on challenges to recent White House activity; reactions to VP Vance’s trip to Greenland; and other top news for Monday, March 31st. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over Today. Please support our TPO sponsors! Parenting with Ginger Hubbard: https://links.thepourover.org/ParentingwithGingerHubbard The Bulletin: MoreCT.com/BulletinPodcast Upside: https://links.thepourover.org/Upside Cru: give.cru.org/pour LMNT: https://links.thepourover.org/LMNT_Podcast HelloFresh: hellofresh.com/hellofreshpodcast One Year Bible: https://links.thepourover.org/OneYearBible_Pod World Relief: https://links.thepourover.org/WorldRelief_Pod The Chronological Life Application Study Bible: https://links.thepourover.org/LASB_0215 Student Life Application Study Bible: https://links.thepourover.org/SLASB_Pod CSB Easter Gift Guide: https://links.thepourover.org/CSB_EasterGiftGuide

Today's episode is brought to you by our lead sponsor, Crew. while remaining focused on Christ with the pour over today. Here's the verse of the day. I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing. John 15.5 Let's get started with some espresso shots. A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, Burma, Friday, killing at least 1,600 people and causing widespread devastation.

The quake hit near Mandalay, the country's second-largest city, collapsing bridges, buildings, and power lines. Myanmar's ruling military junta, which has restricted foreign aid and internet access since a 2021 coup, issued a rare plea for international help. Rescue teams are using drones, sniffer dogs, and heavy machinery to search for survivors as aftershocks continue. At least 130 remain missing, but rescue efforts are being hampered by damaged roads

and the country's ongoing civil war. The impact was felt over 800 miles away in neighboring Thailand, at least 17 people died and 100 plus remain missing, and multiple construction sites collapsed in Thailand's capital of Bangkok, including a high-rise caught on a dashcam. Christians can look forward to an eternity where there's redemption not just for people but for creation itself. Romans 8 20 and 21 says, For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in the hopes that the creation itself will also be

set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God's children. The judicial branch has been swinging gavels. Last week, district and appeals courts issued a number of rulings on challenges to recent Trump admin activity, including, first, allowing the Trump admin to fire Biden-appointed members of labor and workforce protection boards, second, continuing to deny President Trump's use of the Alien Enemies Act to quickly deport alleged Venezuelan gang members, third, blocking the admin from firing all employees at Voice of America, a government-funded international broadcast network, fourth, allowing

Doge to continue overseeing foreign aid distributor USAID. Meanwhile, Wisconsin will elect a new state Supreme Court justice tomorrow, which could flip the bench's ideological majority. Elon Musk caused a stir by giving away three $1 million checks to Wisconsinites who signed a petition against activist judges. The Badger state's attorney general unsuccessfully sued to block the giveaways. Whether we support or oppose a judge's ruling, followers of Christ have an opportunity to show that our ultimate allegiance is to Him.

Imitating our just and merciful Father, root for justice while retaining love for all parties, both the accused and the accusers, desiring restoration, not revenge. Isaiah 30, 18 says, Therefore the Lord is waiting to show you mercy and is rising up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a just God. All who wait patiently for him are happy. One of the world's coldest places is a hot commodity. Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory governed by Denmark, sits in the Arctic Circle between

North America, Europe, and Russia. President Trump's been eyeing the Big Island freezer, saying the U.S. will go as far as we have to go to get it because Greenland is a strategic military location, as Russia and China beef up their Arctic presence. On Friday, while leading a delegation to a U.S. Space Force base in Greenland, VP Vance said Denmark has underinvested in the island's people and security. He said the U.S. respects Greenlanders' right to self-determination and that military force

isn't necessary for boosted American involvement. Denmark's foreign minister didn't appreciate Vance's tone, saying this is not how you talk with your close allies, but welcomed Uncle Sam's cooperation on Arctic defense investments. Here's a verse to consider whether you're caught in the middle of hostile global powers or bickering preteens. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering without pretense.

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace." James 3, 17 and 18. With over 1,000 translations and every type of decorative edition, it's easy to forget how many people can't even get their hands on a single copy of the Bible in their native language. That's why we've partnered with CREW. CREW is missionaries in almost every country, but they need more Bibles.

One missionary said, "'I've never seen such a thirst "'for the word of God in my country.'" Let's quench that thirst. For just $24 a month, you can provide three people with Bibles every month. As a bonus, CREW will provide meals to 12 hungry individuals

through their humanitarian ministry and send you a free TPO coffee mug. Simply text POUR to 71326 or visit give.crew.org. Again, that's texting POUR to 71326 or give.cru.org slash POUR. Message and data rates may apply. Available to US addresses only. In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates. Columbia University's interim president Katrina Armstrong resigned Friday. The exit comes after Columbia agreed to Trump administration demands banning identity-concealing masks, hiring more campus police, etc., amid negotiations to have $400 million in federal funding reinstated. Armstrong's predecessor resigned amid backlash to her handling of on-campus protests of the war in

Gaza. On Friday, Charlie Javis, founder of the startup Frank, was convicted of defrauding a big bank, JP Morgan, out of big money, $175 million. Frank claimed to simplify college financial aid applications for over 4 million students. JP Morgan bought the company in 2021 only to discover 90% of those students weren't real. Javis and her co-defendant now base decades in prison. A new ceasefire is on the table in the Middle East. Saturday, Hamas offered a 50-day truce during which five more living hostages would be released.

Israel submitted a counter-proposal in full coordination with the United States. Then Sunday, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel was upping military pressure and demanding the group disarm a demand Hamas called a red line it won't cross. A small plane traveling from Iowa to Minnesota crashed into a house in Minneapolis on Saturday, killing everyone on board. The crash caused the plane and house to catch fire. No one in the house was harmed. The number of passengers and their identities are still unknown, and an investigation into

the crash is ongoing. X-Meet XAI Elon Musk announced Friday that his social media platform X was acquired by his artificial intelligence startup XAI, consolidating the two companies into a single entity valued at $80 billion. The merger news comes as people gathered in over 200 Tesla locations Sunday for Tesla Takedown, an organized global protest against Elon Musk and recent Doge layoffs. And that's all we have for today. Thanks so much for listening. If you're listening on the Apple Podcast app, give us a five-star rating and drop a review. If you're listening

on Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to never miss a new episode. We appreciate your support and hope you have a great day. We'll see you on Wednesday.