The Pour Over Today - House Passes Healthcare Bill, President Trump’s Primetime Speech, Venezuela Escalations, & More | 12.19.25

Episode Date: December 19, 2025

Today, we’re talking about the House passing a healthcare bill sans Affordable Care Act extensions; Trump’s primetime address to the nation; escalations in Uncle Sam’s pressure campaign on Venezuela; and other top news for Friday, December 19th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. Looking to support us? You can choose to pay ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out The Pour Over's Gift Guide!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our sponsors! We actually use and enjoy every single one. Cru Safe House Project Life Application Study Bible CCCU Upside Mosh LMNT Theology in the Raw Not Just Sunday Podcast She Reads Truth The Pour Over’s Newsletters: ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Pour Over⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Decaf⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠News Health⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Praying the News

Today's episode is brought to you by our lead sponsor, Crew. Hey, this is Zan at the Porover. And this is Joe at the Porover. Today, we're talking about the House passing a health care bill, Sands Affordable Care Act extensions, Trump's primetime address to the nation, escalations in Uncle Sam's pressure campaign on Venezuela, and other top news for Friday, December 19th.

Stay informed while remaining focused. on Christ with the pourover. Here's your quote of the day. Great is God our Lord. Great is his power and there is no end to his wisdom. Praise him, you heavens, glorify him, sun and moon and you planets. For out of him and through him and in him are all things. Johannes Kepler.

Let's get started with some espresso shots. health care costs are back in the House. On Tuesday, four House Democrats joined 212 Republicans to pass the, quote, lower health care premiums for All Americans Act. The GOP proposed package, which does not extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire on December 31st, includes expanded insurance options for small businesses and the self-employed, industry reforms aimed at lowering prescription drug costs and lower premiums for some ACA enrollees. The bill now faces a turbulent future in the Senate where it needs at least seven Democratic

yeas to pass. Meanwhile, some Republicans are hopping the aisle to keep ACA subsidies from totally sunsetting and raising insurance premiums for millions of Americans. Ahead of Tuesday's vote, four red representatives signed a Democratic-led petition to force a separate vote to extend the expiring tax credits. Votes like these are sure to spark heated debate. Remember that both your stance and how you take your stance reflect on Christ. Here's a prayer from every moment holy. O Lord, let those who claim your name do no harm to it by their abrasiveness and impatience.

But rather, speaking your precious truth and love, Let them present your story winsomely that it might be well-loved and that others might be drawn to your goodness, your beauty. President Trump addressed the nation from the White House on Wednesday night. The 18-minute address sharply contrasted his administration with his predecessors and touted No. 47's first-year accomplishments. Trump sought to win back voter confidence as recent national polling shows his disapproval rate rising alongside prices and unemployment.

Here's a roundup of the president's main points. Number one, the economy is, quote, back from the brink of ruin with wage growth outpacing inflation. Number two, Warrior Dividends, a $1,776 Christmas bonus, are in route to America. American service members. Number three, the border is closed, arguing more job growth and housing opportunities for, quote, productive, patriotic, hardworking Americans. And number four, aggressive housing reform is coming next year.

Critics say Trump's, quote, misleading statistics painted an overly rosy economic picture. DNC Chair Ken Martin said Trump is, quote, terrified of the 2020. 26 midterms, and quote, scrambling to clean up his mess. Here's a verse to consider whether the Oval Office lets you down or delivers the win. My days are like a lengthening shadow,

and I wither away like grass. But you, Lord, are enthroned forever. Your fame endures to all generations. Psalm 102, versus 11. The Trump Admin is turning up the pressure on Venezuela. On Tuesday, President Trump ordered a, quote, total and complete blockade of U.S. sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela and designated the Maduro government a, quote, foreign terrorist organization as part of an ongoing pressure campaign targeting Caracas.

The U.S. military will enforce the blockade, which the administration says will choke off oil revenue funding drug trafficking and other crimes. The Pentagon currently has its largest U.S. naval presence in the Caribbean since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Venezuela condemned the move as, quote, warmongering and a violation of international law, vowing to defend its sovereignty and continue trading oil. Caracas asked the U.N. Security Council to address what it quote, ongoing U.S. aggression. Christians should be committed to praying for world leaders to be wise and to work toward peaceful resolutions while simultaneously placing our hope in God, not government.

1 Timothy 2 verses 1 through 2 says, first of all then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone. for kings and all those who are in authority so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. Ready for some good news? According to the American Bible Society, interest in the Bible is rising in the U.S.,

especially among Gen Z and millennials. That same hunger for God's word is growing around the world, particularly in places where owning a Bible isn't easy. That's why we're partnering with Crew, a global ministry bringing Bibles to people eagerly waiting for them. One crew missionary recently said, I have never seen such a thirst for the Word of God in my country. You can help quench that thirst. For just $24 a month, you can provide three people with God's Word every month.

Plus, Crew will provide 12 meals to those in need through their humanitarian ministry and send you a free pourover mug. Join over 200 pourover listeners already making an impact. Text pour to 71326 or visit secure.cru.org slash pore. Again, that's texting P-O-U-R to 71326 or secure.cru.org slash P-O-U-R. Message and data rates may apply. Available to U.S. addresses only.

In other bruise, here's a rapid round of updates. Nick Reiner made his first courtroom appearance on Wednesday since his parents' deaths. Reiner faces two counts of first-degree murder in the stabbing of his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner, and photographer, Michelle. Schell Singer-Riner. He did not enter a plea and waived a speedy arraignment. If convicted, he faces a maximum life sentence without the possibility of parole. Dan Bongino is signing off as deputy FBI director. The departure of the former Secret Service agent and podcaster has been expected since summer when he publicly criticized Attorney General Bondi's handling

of the Epstein case. In Missouri, Attorney General Andrew Bailey was hired to share his job. President Trump said, quote, Dan did a great job and wants to go back to his show. And the Oscars are going to YouTube. Starting in 2029, the Academy Awards will leave ABC, its broadcast home since 1976, to stream free on YouTube. The shift follows years of declining TV ratings for what has long been the most watched awards telecast. YouTube, offers global reach and Google-backed resources for film preservation and other less glitzy academy projects. Police are still searching for the person who murdered an MIT physics professor earlier

this week. Authorities are investigating a possible length between the targeted killing and the mass shooting at Brown University, where a manhunt is also ongoing. Investigators have identified a suspect in the Brown shooting, but not in the MIT attack. Cannabis equals rescheduled. On Thursday, President Trump federally downgraded cannabis from Schedule 1, no medical use and very addictive, like heroin, to Schedule 3,

recognizing some medical value and lower abuse risk. While the move doesn't make marijuana federally legal, it allows research to bud. Critics warn it sends youths the wrong message and creates higher hazards on the wrong. roads. That's all we have for today. 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 we hope you have a great weekend. Catch you on Monday. The noise can be deafening in our chaotic world, but Jesus offers a better way to live. Each week on the Not Just Sunday podcast, pastors Keith Simon and Patrick Miller help you quit part-time Christianity and follow Jesus with every part of your life so that even in the chaos, you can experience the beautiful life he offers every day, not just Sundays. Listen to Not Just Sunday wherever you get your podcasts.