The Pour Over Today - Israel/Hamas Truce Talks, New COVID Guidance, & More | 03.04.24

Episode Date: March 4, 2024

Today, we’re talking truce talks between Israel and Hamas, updated COVID guidance from the CDC, a law protecting IVF in Alabama, and other top news for Monday, March 4th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over Today. Please support our TPO sponsors! A Jew and a Gentile Discuss: https://links.thepourover.org/JewGentileDiscussPod Men's Daily Bible: https://links.thepourover.org/MensDailyBiblePod TUVU: https://www.tuvu.com/tpo 

Today, we're talking truce talks between Israel and Hamas, updated COVID guidance from the CDC, a lot protecting IVF in Alabama, and other top news for Monday, February 4th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over today. Here's the verse of the week. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalm 1, 6. Let's get started with some espresso shots. Mediators and Hamas delegates have arrived in Egypt to negotiate a truce, but Israel's seat is empty.

Israel has already, more or less accepted, the six-week ceasefire on the table, which would free Hamas-held hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and delay Israel's Rafah invasion to allow civilians to clear out, but won't show for talks without hostages' proof of life. Hamas has so far rejected that demand. Negotiators hope to iron out the details of the deal as early as today. There has not been a stop in the fighting since November's week-long pause. Pressure for the truce is mounting as overwhelming obstacles are keeping humanitarian aid from the half-million people one step from famine in Gaza. Saturday, the U.S. military tried a new tactic,

airdropping 38,000 meals in Gaza, the first of many planned drops. The first of many plan drops. Our God sees the needy and is a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. In the face of hunger and death, we're reminded of the good news that one day, the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine, the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain, he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples. Isaiah 25, 6-8 Get a double line on your COVID test? The CDC dropped its long-standing five-day isolation policy for COVID on Friday.

The new guidance is similar to that for the flu. Stay home until your symptoms have improved and you're fever-free for 24 hours. CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen attributed the change to greater population-wide immunity and smaller, more predictable waves of infection. Compared to the 2021 peak, 2023 saw a 60% drop in COVID hospitalizations and an 83% decrease in deaths. The CDC is still recommending a vaccine update this fall, while seniors are urged to get an additional boost now.

Speaking, reluctantly, of the RONA, a new CDC report found that alcohol-related deaths surged 29% to 488 per day during 2020-2021. Pandemic stress, isolation, delayed medical care, and alcohol delivery were all cited as factors. Here's a verse to consider when discussion of the pandemic turns heated. No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4, 29. News continues to swirl in a couple of high-profile medical legal battles.

First, Walgreens and CVS announced they've received FDA certification to start selling mefepristone, a common abortion pill, as early as this week in states where abortion is legal. as early as this week in states where abortion is legal. The announcement follows a 2023 FDA rule change that broadened the availability of abortion medications with additional certification requirements. Later this month, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments related to the FDA's policies on access to abortion medication. In Alabama, a bill providing civil and criminal immunity for death or damage to IVF embryos

is expected to be signed into law after passing through the state's legislature. The bill aims to restore access to IVF after half the state's fertility clinics pause treatment following the Alabama Supreme Court's ruling that frozen embryos are children. Discussing controversial issues can lead to strained relationships and hurt feelings. Christians can demonstrate God's love by showing compassion and understanding as we engage with others, even as we seek to be faithful to God's word. Colossians 4.6 says, Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Sometimes it feels like money doesn't stretch very far these days.

But when you sponsor a child through Compassion International, just $43 per month is crazy powerful. Sponsorship means education, clean water, healthy food, medical care, and most importantly, hope. Through local churches in the area, sponsored children build relationships with Jesus-loving adults who can offer the specific support kids need to thrive. Not sure where to start? Go to Compassion.com slash TPO or find the link in the show notes and search by birthday to see if there's a child with your birthday that needs a sponsor. Another bruise. Here's a rapid round of updates. Thousands of mourners gathered in Moscow to say до свидания or goodbye to Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny,

defying the Kremlin's threats of arrest by attending the funeral. Crowds chanted Putin is a murderer and no to war as they marched to the cemetery under heavy police presence. Hoop's history was made over the weekend. First, LeBron James became the only member of the NBA's 40K club, surpassing 40,000 career points on Saturday. Then, Iowa's Kaitlin Clark passed Pete Maravich to become the overall NCAA's scoring leader on Sunday.

Clark, who has another year of NCAA's eligibility, announced Friday she'll be joining the WNBA next season. Oregon, which decriminalized drug possession in 2021, reversed its stance on Friday. Facing rising overdoses, the state legislature voted overwhelmingly to recriminalize possession of small amounts of drugs like heroin and methamphetamine, making such possession punishable by up to six months in jail. Critics argue it reverts to an ineffective system that funnels people into the court system instead of improving health. Strong winds and dry conditions over the weekend exacerbated the largest wildfire in Texas history, claiming two lives and destroying over 500 structures. While Texas battles the Inferno, which is only 15% contained, California is digging out of the snow.

A weekend blizzard in the Sierra Nevada dumped 10 feet of snow, closed I-80 for days, and saw thousands lose power. closed I-80 for days and saw thousands lose power. A Colorado paramedic was sentenced to five years in prison for the death of Elijah McClain, a black man whose death fueled cries for social injustice in 2020. The medic was convicted of criminally negligent homicide for injecting McClain with ketamine to sedate him during a struggle. Such prosecution is rare, and critics say it discourages people from becoming paramedics. And 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 day. We'll see you on Wednesday.