The Pour Over Today - Hurricane Melissa Makes Landfall, SNAP Benefits to Running Dry, & More | 10.29.25

Episode Date: October 29, 2025

Today, we’re talking about Hurricane Melissa making landfall in Jamaica yesterday; SNAP benefits expected to run dry Saturday; and other top news for Wednesday, October 29th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. Join over 1.5 million readers with our free newsletter here Looking to support us? You can choose to pay here Check out our sponsors! We actually use and enjoy every single one. Cru Surfshark Holy Post CCCU Upside HelloFresh Mosh LMNT Theology in the Raw Safe House Project A Place For You Practicing Life Together Not Just Sunday Podcast Quince Courage for Life Study Bible She Reads Truth

Today's episode is brought to you by our lead sponsor, Safe House Project. Hey, this is Bailey at The Poorover. Today, we're talking about Hurricane Melissa making landfall in Jamaica yesterday, SNAP benefits, expected to run dry Saturday, and other top news for Wednesday, October 29. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with the pourover. Here's your quote of the day. All we have to decide is what to do. with the time that is given us.

J.R.R. Token. Fia, canned off the gray. Let's get started with simispresso shots. The strongest storm of 2025 made landfall in Jamaica yesterday. Let's look at what happened. Over the weekend, Hurricane Melissa ballooned to a category four, with meteorologists' warning of, quote, catastrophic flooding in Jamaica and parts of Cuba and Haiti.

Jamaican officials issued mandatory evacuations to about 28,000 residents Monday as the storm grew, saying, quote, no infrastructure in the region can withstand a Category 5. Melissa crawled to the coast, giving residents more time to board up buildings and move inland, though at the time of landfall, less than 6,000 people had evacuated to shelters.

Yesterday afternoon, Melissa came ashore over southwestern Jamaica as a Category 5, bringing record rainfall, winds up to 185 miles per hour, and up to 13 feet of storm surge, which is coastal flooding from rising tides. So, what's been the impact so far? As of recording, at least seven people across the Caribbean have died, and hundreds of thousands of Jamaicans are without power in the wake of the most severe storm in the island. 's recorded history. Melissa weakened to a Category 4 storm while passing over Jamaica's mountains, causing even more, quote, catastrophic damage, think mudslides, before approaching Cuba early this morning. Ahead of landfall, the Air Force Reserve's hurricane hunters flew into the eye of the storm to collect data and record the eye's stadium effect, which, like it sounds is where a wall of clouds looks like you're in a meteorological stadium. But the plane was

forced to turn back due to turbulence. Also unexpectedly on the radar, a flock of birds trapped in the eye. Now Melissa is heading northeast, where she's expected to weaken further. In the forecast, up to 10 inches of rainfall in the Bahamas and Turks and Cacos before the storm heads back out to sea. In the wake of this disaster in the Caribbean, will you pray with me? Father, king of creation, call your rebellious elements back to order. Jesus, stiller of raging storms. Bring peace and freedom from fear. Spirit, giver of life, fill us again.

To those who are grieving, be near with comfort. To those who are lost, search relentlessly. and bring them home. For those who will rescue, grant courage and strength. For those who have lost everything, richly provide. To those who rebuild,

give fortitude, endurance, and hope. For your people, alight in the darkness, open doors for bold love. Shine your light and make new again, Lord of resurrection and life. Amen.

Funding for grocery support is expected to run dry on Saturday. As the shutdown drags into Day 29, SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that helps 42 million people, roughly one in eight U.S. residents afford groceries, is set to halt benefits on November 1st unless Congress acts. Friday, the USDA announced it can't legally use its $5 billion contingent. agency fund to cover regular SNAP payments since it's reserved for emergency is like natural disasters. States and food banks are scrambling to fill gaps temporarily, but both warned they can't replace federal aid. Meanwhile, pressure from governors, food banks, and advocacy groups is mounting on lawmakers

to find a deal before the weekend. Yesterday, 26 states and D.C. sued the White House, calling the looming cutoff, quote, contrary to law, and arbitrary and capricious. Here are some verses to consider during emotionally charged times. Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another. Be angry and do not sin. Don't let the sun go down on your anger, and don't give the devil an opportunity. Let all bitterness, anger, and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with malice, and be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.

Ephesians 4, 25 through 27, and 31 through 32. Human trafficking isn't just an over-their problem, it's happening right here in the U.S. An estimated 300,000 people are being trafficked in America right now, and most were first sold as children. Even when they get a chance to run, sometimes there's no safe way out, and they get pulled right back in. Safehouse Project is helping children get to safety

and stay there by equipping communities to spot trafficking and funding urgent escapes. They cover what's needed in those crucial moments, a way to escape, shelter, and resources. for lasting freedom. Trafficking in the U.S. is at crisis levels and requests for help to escape are higher than ever. Just $40 provides a safe ride

that takes a child from captivity to freedom. Safehouse Project can't miss the moment when a child is ready to escape, and your gift makes sure they don't. Give a child the way out. Go to safehouseproject.org or check the link in the show notes to give now. In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates.

Show Hey Otani, show Hey Otanied in Monday Night's World Series game three. In an 18-inning marathon, Otani powered the Dodgers past the Blue Jays 6 to 5, going four-for-four with two home runs before being walked, five times. reached base nine times total in a game that stretched till almost midnight and cemented his October legend status. It's election season across the world. In Cameroon, protests erupted after 92-year-old President Bia won his eighth term in his 43-year tenure, meaning the world's oldest leader could be nearly 100 when he leaves office.

In Argentina, President Miele's conservative party won big in midterms. Before the vote, President Trump promised a $40 billion investment for Argentina's faltering economy, if conservatives won. President Trump brought his sharpies to Asia. Yesterday, 47 signed, quote, very fair trade and critical mineral deals with Japan's new prime minister, which included a 15% tariff on Japanese goods, lower than the 25% threatened, and a $550 billion Japanese investment in America's industry. Strong optimism that a trade deal with China is up next had Wall Street hitting another record high on Monday.

Amazon started delivering pink slips to corporate offices yesterday. The e-commerce behemoth is laying off up to 30,000 white-collar employees, nearly 10% of its office workforce, in potentially the largest corporate dismissal in company history. 27,000 were let go in 2022. CEO Andy Jassy is spearheading Amazon's aggressive reinvention to reduce bureaucracy and boost productivity by using AI for routine tasks. A GOP-led committee says Biden's auto-penn signed pardons, quote, should be considered void.

The House Oversight Committee argued that pardons, signed by machine rather than by hand, don't, quote, carry the force of the law. citing concerns over presidential authority and authenticity. The report urges the DOJ to investigate. The legal scholars say there's no mechanism to undo clemency after it's granted. 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 hope you have a great day. Catch on Briney. Looking to dig deeper into the word, check out She She Reads Truth, a trustworthy Bible reading resource for women and men. From beautifully designed daily reading guides and Bibles to their weekly podcast, She Reads Truth gives you the structure and support you need to stay rooted in scripture. Build a daily rhythm in God's Word with

She Reeds Truth. TPA listeners get 15% off any She Reads Truth reading guide or Bible at Shop she reads Struth with Code Pourover. Check them out at the link in the show notes.