The Pour Over Today - Middle East Negotiations, No Change in Interest Rates, Trump Admin vs. Judges, & More I 3.21.25

Starting point is 00:00:00 Today, we're talking about the continuing negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Israel and Hamas, no change in the interest rates from the Fed, President Trump calling for the impeachment of a federal judge, and other top news for Wednesday, March 21st. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with the poor over today. Here's the quote of the day, Disciple making is not a call for others to come to us to hear the gospel, but a command for us to go to others to share the gospel. David Platt. Let's get started with some espresso shots.

Starting point is 00:00:37 Ceasefires are being negotiated and ending. Ukrainian President Zelensky backed a limited ceasefire that would ban attacks on civilian infrastructure after a call with President Trump Wednesday, which both described as positive. Russian President Putin agreed to the narrow proposal on Tuesday, but rejected Trump's push for a broader 30-day ceasefire. US-led negotiations will continue Sunday in Saudi Arabia, with Secretary of State Rubio and National Security Advisor Waltz representing the US. Russia and Ukraine's participation remains unclear.

Starting point is 00:01:12 Meanwhile, the Israel Hamas ceasefire appears to have fully broken. Israel resumed its ground assault and heavy airstrikes in Gaza this week. Hamas began returning rocket fire yesterday. At least 500 people have been killed since fighting resumed, and there's not a clear path to resuming peace talks. War and the evil it exposes are a terrible reminder that the world is not as it should be. Seek peace where you are and trust that the Lord will end all war in His perfect timing. Psalm 46, 6, 7, and 9 says,

Starting point is 00:01:49 Nations rage, kingdoms topple, the earth melts when He lifts His voice. The Lord of armies is with us, the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Come, see the works of the Lord, who brings devastation on the earth. The Federal Reserve is holding its horses. At their meeting on Wednesday, the central bank left interest rates unchanged, around 4.5%, employing its trademark wait-and-see approach. The Fed gave a slightly less optimistic forecast than it did at its last meeting, lower economic growth and higher inflation, but caveated everything by saying the predictions were

Starting point is 00:02:32 highly uncertain. It's unclear how things like proposed government spending cuts, federal layoffs, and on-again off-again tariffs will play out. Despite the uncertainty, Chairman Jerome Powell said the overall economic data, like unemployment, remains solid. Wall Street was excited to hear the Fed still expects to cut rates twice this year. S&P 500 up 1.1%, Dow up 0.9%.

Starting point is 00:02:57 But President Trump was unexcited rates wouldn't be cut immediately, saying a trim would be the right thing to offset the impacts of tariffs. Here's a verse to consider when stressing over the uncertainty of the market. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13, 8. The executive and judicial branches are at odds. This week, President Trump called for the impeachment of the judge who blocked recent

Starting point is 00:03:35 deportation efforts, earning a rare statement from Chief Justice Roberts, who said, impeachment is not an appropriate response to a dislike decision. The legislative branch entered the chat when a House Republican proposed a resolution to impeach the judge. His removal is highly unlikely, requiring a majority of the House and two-thirds of the Senate. Meanwhile, the courts are weighing in on Doge's cost chainsawing efforts. Judges ruled probationary workers fired in recent mass layoffs must be fully reinstated, Doge cannot shut down U.S. aid, and Musk's recent involvement in the effort was unconstitutional, and Doge can proceed in taking over the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Starting point is 00:04:15 All these rulings are expected to be appealed. In this divisive political climate, followers of Christ have an opportunity to show that our ultimate allegiance is to Him, imitating our just and merciful Father, root for justice while retaining love for all parties, both the accused and the accusers, desiring restoration not revenge. Isaiah 30, 18 says, The Lord is waiting to show you mercy and is rising up to show you compassion for the Lord is a just God. All who wait patiently for him are happy. Easter is the biggest celebration of our faith and what better way to celebrate than giving the

Starting point is 00:05:01 gift of God's word? Whether you're looking for a first Bible for a child, a beautiful study Bible for a new believer, or a note-taking Bible to sneak into your own Easter basket, Christian standard Bibles have something for every age and personality. The CSB is highly readable and accurate, making it perfect for any reading level. Plus, you can make it extra special with personalization options. This Easter, go beyond the candy and egg hunts and celebrate the deeper meaning of the resurrection by gifting a Bible that your loved ones will cherish for years to come. See the link in the show notes to shop for the perfect one. In other words, here's a reparant of updates. Musk critics are burning rubber, literally.

Starting point is 00:05:53 Several Teslas were set on fire Tuesday at a Las Vegas dealership in an apparent targeted attack with Resist spray painted on the dealership's doors. The attack is part of a nationwide wave of vandalism against Tesla since Musk began leading the White House's efficiency efforts. Attorney General, Pam Bondi, called it domestic terrorism, vowing prosecutions. Over 63,000 files of JFK's assassination

Starting point is 00:06:22 were released Tuesday, but contain some redactions despite President Trump's call for full transparency. Enthusiasts who are still pouring through the stacks say the files reaffirmed the CIA had been monitoring Oswald leading up to the assassination but had provided no major bombshells. About 4,700 documents remain classified, many at the CIA and FBI's request. Greenpeace owes some major green. The Environmental Advocacy Group was ordered to pay $660 million in damages to the Dakota Access Pipeline developer after a jury determined that Greenpeace trespassed on private property and defamed the company, among other violations, while protesting the pipeline's constitution in 2016. Greenpeace attempts to appeal, saying the damages may force it into bankruptcy.

Starting point is 00:07:16 The Trump administration announced it is pausing $175 million in funding to the University of Pennsylvania, stating the university's policies are, forcing women to compete with men in sports. Penn, which made headlines in 2022 when swimmer Leah Thomas became the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA swimming championship, says their policies comply with all NCAA and Ivy League policies. The Boston Celtics were sold for $6.1 billion. It's the priciest franchise sale in North American sports history, topping the $6.05 billion sale of the NFL's Washington

Starting point is 00:07:56 commanders in 2023. The Celtics new owner, Bill Chisholm, said he's been a rabid fan of the team since seventh grade. 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 weekend. We'll see you on Monday.

Starting point is 00:08:33 You made it to the end of our podcast. So you probably appreciate discussions about current events from a Christian perspective. Check out The Bulletin, a headline driven roundtable podcast from Christianity Today. Hosts Russell Moore, Mike Cosper, and Clarissa Moll share conversations with fascinating guests, encouraging you to consider the world around you through the intersection of faith, culture, and spiritual formation.

Starting point is 00:08:55 Join the conversation by going to morect.com slash bulletin board.

The Pour Over Today - Middle East Negotiations, No Change in Interest Rates, Trump Admin vs. Judges, & More I 3.21.25

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