The Pour Over Today - César Chávez’s Abuse Allegations, Energy Prices Rising, March Madness Updates, & More | 03.20.2026

Episode Date: March 20, 2026

Today, we’re talking about Civil Rights icon César Chávez’s abuse allegations; the Iran war putting strain on Uncle Sam’s energy budget; WNBA players getting a pay bump and March Madness updates; and other top news for Friday, March 20th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. Looking to support us? You can choose to pay ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our sponsors! We actually use and enjoy every single one. Cru Wild Alaskan HelloFresh Safe House Project QAVA CCCU Upside Mosh LMNT Bible Gateway Plus Life Application Study Bible Unto Compelled Podcast I Choose Love TPO Corrections Page

Hey, this is Joe at the poorover. And this is Catherine Ann at the poorover. Today, we're talking about civil rights icon Cesar Chavez's abuse allegations, the Iran war putting strain on Uncle Sam's energy budget, WNBA players getting a pay bump and March madness updates, and other top news for Friday, March 20th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with the pourover. Here's your quote of the day.

We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did, but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. Thomas Soll Let's get started with some espresso shots. Heads up, this story contains sensitive content. Civil rights icon Cesar Chavez has been accused of abusing women and girls over decades. A New York Times investigation published Wednesday detailed sexual abuse allegations from Dolores Huerta,

Chavez's co-founder at the United Farm Workers, UFW, Union, and two other women. Huerta, age 95, said Chavez, quote, manipulated and pressured her into sexual encounters that resulted in two children. Huerta kept silent to protect the labor movement. The other women claim his abuse began when they were children and Chavez was UFW president. and several states, canceled their Caesar Chavez Day activities,

calling the allegations, quote, deeply troubling, and some officials are debating renaming streets and buildings bearing Chavez's name. The labor leader rose to fame in the 60s and 70s, organizing strikes and boycotts for better wages and conditions for farm workers. He died in 1993 at age 66. When heroes fail, Christians are reminded

why we can never put our faith in any man or woman, Only Christ live sinlessly and offers true security and justice. A prayer from Every Moment Holy, Volume 3, pages 306 through 307. Where our trust has been twisted, O Christ, where those who ought to have served us have instead sought control, where sex and scandal or greed and ambition for power have come to light, wounding our souls.

Now be about the work of healing those deep hurts. Let those who are injured yet see such dark contrast between the self-serving manipulations of a duplicitous leader and the self-sacrificing love of their eternal king that they could never confuse the one for the other. Amen. As the Iran war continues, energy prices and Uncle Sam's defense budget are getting pricier. This week, Israel and Iran have traded strikes, with Israel hitting Iran's largest natural gas field and Iran retaliation. by targeting a major natural gas site in Qatar.

President Trump said the U.S. quote, knew nothing about Israel's strike. Some Mideast officials contest this, but would, quote, massively blow up the entirety of Iran's gas field if Tehran strikes Qatar again. Crude oil and liquefied natural gas prices oozed upward in response. Washington is now considering new ways to stopper rising prices,

including releasing more U.S. reserves and unsanctioning roughly 140 million barrels of Iranian oil. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is requesting $200 billion in additional war funding, saying, quote, it takes money to kill bad guys. Critics say the department's big ticket request is asking for a long war. Here's a first to consider when the headlines are dominated by conflict. He will settle disputes among many. many peoples and provide arbitration for strong nations that are far away. They will beat their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives.

Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war. Micah 4 verse 3. If you've ever wondered, what even is crude oil? You're not alone. We're doing a shallow dive into all things crude oil tomorrow, so stay tuned and come back for tomorrow's episode. The Road to One Shining Moment tipped off yesterday with 16 first-round men's games. Most games went according to rankings with the biggest upset being 12-seated High Point Panthers, defeating the fifth-seated Wisconsin Badgers, 83-82.

The madness continues tomorrow with the remaining 16 first-round men's games, along with the first 16 women's matchups. Off the court, WMBA players are getting a massive pay bump. The league and its players union reached a verbal agreement Wednesday, ending a 17-month wage battle that threatened to delay the league's 30th season. Here are some key deets of the deal. New team salary cap, 7 million, up from 1.5 million. New average player's salary is now 600,000, up from 120,000.

And the new minimum salary is now 300,000, up from 66,000. The deal's still not officially official, but the season is back on track to tip off May 8th. The world has different priorities than God does, and many eternally insignificant things are compelling for a season. As Christ followers, we can show the world how to enjoy sports without letting them consume our attention or rule our heart. 1 Corinthians 10, verses 23 and 31 says,

Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything builds up. So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Have you ever opened your Bible and thought, man, I really wish I understood this better? We've all been there. The Bible can feel overwhelming when you don't have the right guidance or context around what you're reading. That's why we love Kavah,

a Christian streaming platform designed to help you understand scripture and live out your faith with confidence. It's like digital discipleship in your pocket. You'll find Bible studies, biblical documentaries, and conversations with trusted teachers who can help you see scripture in context, so it finally comes alive in your everyday life. And the cherry on top? Kava is a non-profit subscriber-funded ministry.

That means when you join, you're not just getting great content, You're helping create biblical resources that help people around the world grow in their faith. Move from confusion to confidence with Kava. Watch anytime, anywhere from any device, and use code the pourover 50 to get 50% off your first six months. Start streaming today at the link in the show notes. In other bruce, here's a rapid round of updates. The World Happiness Report has revealed

that doomscrolling does exactly what you think. Oxford University's annual report tagged heavy social media use as a key driver of declining well-being among young people. Finland is the world's happiest nation for the ninth straight year, while Uncle Sam came as the 23rd happiest,

marking the second straight year English-speaking countries didn't crack the top 10. A Senate committee narrowly advanced Senator Mark Wayne Mullen's DHS Secretary nomination yesterday. Support from Senator John Fetterman swung the 8 to 7 vote after committee chair ran Paul was the lone Republican to dissent. Paul confronted Mullen for past personal comments, warning his, quote, anger issues,

make him unfit to lead ICE. The full chamber will consider Mullen's nomination next week. This just in. interest rates didn't change. The Fed voted 11-1 Wednesday to hold rates at their current benchmark, 3.5 to 3.75% for the second consecutive meeting, citing a softening labor market, higher than wanted inflation, and uncertainty tied to the Iran war. Fed forecasts have one cut projected for this year, but experts say timing depends on the length of the conflict. The FAA's tightening its seatbelt on helicopter safety.

Wednesday, the aviation regulator announced it suspending the use of visual separation, aka using only eyeballs, to keep planes and helicopters from colliding, and requiring air traffic controllers to use radar to, quote, actively manage helicopters. The announcement comes over a year after the plane helicopter crash near Washington, D.C., that killed 60, people. The 98th Academy Awards weren't a blockbuster hit. This year's Oscars drew 17.9 million viewers, making it the least-watch tiny gold man ceremony since 2022.

Meanwhile, Val Kilmer's a shoe-in for best AI-generated lead next season. The late actor's estate is allowing an AI rendition of Kilmer to star in a film he was cast in but never acted in. before his death. That's all the news we have for today. Here's some good news. Because of Christ's mercy, we have a home with him in eternity.

Nothing in this life can change that. Thanks so much for listening, TPOFam. 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're grateful for your support

and hope you have a great weekend. See ya Monday. Love is everywhere in our world. And it's often treated like a fickle feeling, but the Bible paints a different picture. Chip Ingram's book, I Choose Love, approaches this subject with biblical clarity and practical wisdom, exploring how, quote,

love is choosing to give another person what they need most when they deserve at least at great personal cost. Get a copy of I Choose Love, How to Love Your Neighbor as Yourself. Available at moodybooks.com or wherever you get good books.