The Pour Over Today - Monday, October 23, 2023

Episode Date: October 23, 2023

Today, we’re bringing updates from Israel, the latest plan to elect a House Speaker, the latest on former President Trump’s legal battles, and other top news for Monday, October 23. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over Today. Sponsored by Hiya

Today we're bringing updates from Israel, the latest plan to elect a House Speaker, the latest on former President Trump's legal battles, and other top news for Monday, October 23rd. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over today. Here's the quote of the day. He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent. St. Augustine Let's get started with some espresso shots. Hamas released two American hostages on Friday. According to a Hamas statement, Illinois residents Judith Raynon, 59, and her Natalie Reynon, 17, were released for humanitarian reasons.

An estimated 200 hostages, including 10 Americans, are still being held in Gaza. President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have both reaffirmed their commitments to brokering the hostages' release. reaffirmed their commitments to brokering the hostages' release. On Saturday, 20 trucks bringing limited aid, food, water, and medicine—no fuel—were allowed into Gaza through Egypt's Rafah border crossing. Fourteen more followed yesterday. The UN chief says Gazans need much, much more, and negotiations for regular shipments are ongoing. Meanwhile, Israel has evacuated a city near its northern border with Lebanon, a sign that there may soon be another war front. Israel has been clashing with Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group and says this evacuation allows its military more operational freedom.

When it feels like darkness is closing in, remember that the fight is not over. The righteousness, justice, peace, and light of the Lord will prevail. Psalm 37 verses 1, 5, 10, and 11 says, fret not yourself because of evildoers. Commit no Speaker of the House. After Jim Jordan lost a third vote by an even wider margin, Republicans regrouped and unbacked him for Speaker. Since then, nine Republicans, including House veterans and powerful committee chairmen, have announced their desire to wield the gavel. But there's no clear frontrunner. but there's no clear frontrunner. Tonight, there will be a candidate forum, followed by a secret ballot vote among Republicans to choose the party's preferred candidate.

Then, that person will still need to win 217 votes from the entire House of Representatives. Hoping to avoid another public impasse on the House floor, there's a push to have all candidates sign a unity pledge, promising to support the party's eventual nominee, whomever it is. Most, but not all, have signed it. Politicians come and go, often disappointing supporters and opponents alike. Put your hope in the Lord, who has no term limit, who rules with compassion, and who executes justice perfectly. Psalm 9, verses 7-10 says, But the Lord sits enthroned forever. He has established His throne for judgment, and He judges the world with righteousness. He executes judgment on the nations with fairness.

The Lord is a refuge for the persecuted, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you because you have not abandoned those who seek you, Lord. Former President Trump's courtroom sagas continue. Last week, Kenneth Tresbro and Sidney Powell, two lawyers charged alongside Donald Trump with conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against other defendants. Prosecutors hope the deals will snowball into an avalanche of Trump allies flipping, while Trump's attorney said any truthful testimony will only help the defense. Up in New York, the judge in the state civil case regarding alleged asset value inflation fined Donald Trump $5,000 for violating a gag order and threatened jail time for future violations.

But the former president's legal issues don't seem to be hurting his campaign. But the former president's legal issues don't seem to be hurting his campaign. Recent financial disclosures show that, despite spending $20 million on legal fees this year, Trump ended September with $37.5 million in his coffers. That's more than all GOP rivals combined. Here's a verse to consider whether you're celebrating victories or despairing over defeats. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments. He is not afraid of bad news. His heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady,

he will not be afraid. Psalm 112 verses 1, 7, and 8. Today's episode is sponsored by Haya. Guess what is non-GMO, vegan, dairy-free, allergy-free, gelatin-free, nut-free, and everything else you can imagine? We guessed water, and we're correct, booyah. But today's correct answer is Haya. Haya is the pediatrician-approved, super-powered, chewable vitamin created by two dads tired of children's vitamins that cause more problems than they solve. Haya fills in the most common gaps in modern children's diets without the added sugar and gummy junk found in other brands. But it also checks one more very important box. Even picky eaters love the taste.

So parents, get 50% off your first order with code POROVER when you try Haya today. Find the link in our show notes. In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that accuses the Biden administration of unconstitutionally coercing social media platforms into removing certain content around COVID-19 and election security. The robed nine also blocked a lower courts order that restricted the White House's communication with social media giants, allowing them to communicate freely with Meta, X, Twitter, and YouTube on content concerns.

Mortgage rates are getting spooky high heading into Halloween. For the first time in decades, the popular 30-year fixed mortgage rate is over 8%. The mix of high rates and high prices is scaring off both sellers and buyers, slowing an already slow housing market. The U.S. Army private who defected to North Korea, where he was detained for two months before his September release, faces seven charges related to his time stationed in South Korea. Possession of child pornography, multiple assaults against fellow soldiers, insubordination, and consumption of alcohol against Army regulation. He has now

also been charged with desertion. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, agents encountered 269,735 migrants at the border in September, the most of any month this fiscal year. It brings 2023's record total to 2.47 million people crossing the southern border, the majority of whom are single adults. 1.5 million crossings this year so far. The actors' strike just got serious. Now it's affecting trick-or-treating. The actors' union, SAG-AFTRA, told their members not to choose a Halloween costume from any companies they're striking against, though later clarified after criticism from celebrities that it doesn't apply to their children. In ghosts, out Ghostbusters. In spiders, out Spider-Man.

In fairies, out Barbie Fairytopia. 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 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 appreciate your support and hope you have a great day. We'll see you on Wednesday.