The Pour Over Today - Friday, March 31, 2023

Episode Date: March 31, 2023

Today, we’re talking about a deadly military helicopter crash, a call to pause more powerful AI, new developments in Russia, and other top news for Friday, March 31st. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. Pay what you want for The Pour Over

Today, we're talking about a deadly military helicopter crash, a call to pause more powerful AI, new developments in Russia, and other top news for Friday, March 31st. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. Here's the quote of the day. Our love grows soft if it's not strengthened by truth, and our truth grows hard if it's not softened by love. John Stott. Nine soldiers died in a helicopter crash late Wednesday night.

Two HH-60 Black Hawk medical evacuation aircraft were conducting routine nighttime training exercises when they went down some 30 miles northwest of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, just over the Tennessee-Kentucky border. There were no survivors. The soldiers stationed in Fort Campbell were part of the 101st Airborne Division, the Army's only air assault division. Brigadier General John Lubas said little is known about the crash's cause, including if the helicopters collided. Investigators from Fort Rucker, Alabama, will travel to examine the crash site. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin called the accident a tragic loss, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear offered his condolences, saying the state would support the families for the years to come.

The promise of heaven does not remove the pains of this world, but it does give us hope, strength, and peace during life's most difficult seasons. Join us in praying for hope, strength, and peace for those impacted by this tragedy, especially the soldiers' families. Psalms, chapter 121, verses 1 through 2 say, I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

Some big names have decided AI chatbots' new ability to book dinner reservations, file lawsuits, and build entire websites is more scary than cool. The group, which includes Elon Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, and 1,000 others, penned an open letter calling for a six-month break before tech companies develop anything more powerful than GPT-4. They want existing AI to become more trustworthy before pushing towards new, potentially uncontrollable capabilities, and maybe for everyone to rewatch Terminator. Some say it's just sour grapes. Many of the signatures belong to competitors of GPT-4. Others say the tech is overhyped and there's no need for

alarm bells. Regardless, it doesn't appear that any of the major players will unplug their keyboards. Goldman Sachs released a report on Monday that predicted AI could boost world GDP by 7%. Here's a verse to consider when marveling at the capabilities of man-made technology. Have you ever in your life commanded the morning or assigned the dawn its place? Job chapter 38 verse 12. Yesterday, Russia arrested an American correspondent for the Wall Street Journal on espionage charges. The journal strongly denies the accusations, and the White House has demanded his immediate release. So far, Russia has said no. There's not much goodwill in the relationship. Earlier this week, Moscow announced they'll no longer give Washington advanced warning about its missile tests, and the two countries have recently stopped sharing nuclear data.

Russia isn't Uncle Sam's only foreign relations headache. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has a stopover in Los Angeles next week as part of her trip home from Central America, and she's planning on meeting with Speaker Kevin McCarthy. China has promised to resolutely fight back if the meeting occurs, saying it would amount to the U.S. recognizing Taiwan as a sovereign nation. Beijing claims Taiwan is Chinese territory. Our response to things outside of our control, like the diplomatic relationships of world powers, should reflect our faith in Christ, and be an encouragement to others. In the face of anxiety-inducing news,

seek to reflect the peace of God, which surpasses understanding. Philippians chapter four, verse seven says, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. This episode is sponsored by The Pour Over. We believe that the news can actually be a force for good, helping people find rest and comfort in Christ while spurring them on to loving action,

instead of, you know, creating division, anger, and a persistent feeling of impending doom. For example, keep this in mind while reading today's news. Even if everything goes wrong, your eternity is secure. It costs about 20 cents per subscriber per month to operate the pour-over. Many readers are unable or uninterested in paying, but you can sling seven of them on your back and support our staff and mission for just $1.99 a month. Check out the link in the show notes. In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates. In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates. Former President Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury for his role in a hush money payment during his 2016 campaign.

It's the first time a former president has faced criminal charges. The exact charges are sealed and likely will not be known until he is arrested and arraigned in court, which may take several days. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Narcan, the nasal spray that can reverse an opioid overdose, could be on a store shelf near you by late summer. The FDA approved the drug, which blocks opioids effects on the brain, for over-the-counter sale on Wednesday. Increased access will hopefully help combat the opioid epidemic, which is claiming over 100,000 lives a year. Pope Francis, 86, was hospitalized with a lung infection after experiencing difficulty breathing earlier this week. The timing's not ideal.

This weekend, Palm Sunday kicks off Holy Week, one of the busiest weeks in the Catholic calendar. The Vatican said the pontiff is improving, but it is not clear whether he'll deliver Easter mass. Wednesday, Kentucky's Republican-controlled state legislature overrode Democratic Governor Andy Beshear's veto, passing a law that prevents discussion of gender identity with students of all ages and bans all transgender medical treatments for minors. West Virginia passed a similar law, but allows hormone therapy for children at risk of self-harm or suicide. Transgender advocacy groups are protesting and have promised lawsuits. Yesterday was opening day to Root, Root, Root for the MLB. This year, America's Pastime has an updated rulebook aimed at speeding up the game. Changes include bigger bases, 18 inches

instead of 15 inches, a pitch timer, 15 seconds with the bases empty, 20 seconds with the runners on base, and only 2.5 strikes until you're out. Just kidding. That's all we have for today. Thanks so much for listening. If you're listening on the Apple Podcasts app, give us a 5-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 weekend. We'll see you on Monday.