The Pour Over Today - Penn President Resigns, Record MLB Contract, & More | 12.11.23

Episode Date: December 11, 2023

Today, we’re talking about Penn’s president resigning after backlash, a record MLB contract, an update on the Israel/Hamas war, and other top news for Monday, December  11th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over Today. Sponsored by The Bible Recap Check out our 2023 Gift Guide Here

Today we're talking about Penn's president resigning after backlash, a record MLB contract, an update on the Israel-Hamas war, and other top news for Monday, December 11th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over today. Here's the quote of the day. We suffer a lot the few things we lack, and we enjoy too little the many things we have. William Shakespeare. Let's get started with some espresso shots. Liz McGill has stepped down as president of the University of Pennsylvania.

Last week, Congress questioned the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and Penn about rising anti-Jewish sentiment on their campuses. When Representative Elise Stefanik asked if calls for Jewish genocide violated Penn's code of conduct, McGill said it was context-dependent. Wealthy donors, social media users, and even the White House were not impressed and demanded she resign. McGill later said that calls for genocide are evil, plain and simple, but both she and the chair of the Board of Trustees have since resigned. Harvard and MIT's presidents remain under fire for similarly less-than-firm responses. Meanwhile, universities of Wisconsin regions voted 9-8 to reject a deal with state Republicans that would have provided about $1 billion in funding in exchange for shifting staff away from the campus diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

The world is restless in many areas, including college campuses. While it's easy to become angry and indignant, it's much more difficult to live with the tension of desiring change while simultaneously loving everyone involved. Followers of Christ are called to live in that tension, loving the very people they work against. Jesus says in John 13, verse 35, By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

It's time for some rounds of applause. Two-time American League MVP Shohei Ohtani just signed a grand slam of a contract. While Ohtani excels at both pitching and hitting, the first two-way star since Babe Ruth, an elbow injury will limit him to only hitting in 2024 and retaking the mound in 2025. His 10-year, $700 million deal to join the Los Angeles Dodgers is the biggest sports contract ever. Also celebrating in L.A., the Lakers won the NBA's inaugural in-season tournament by beating the Indiana Pacers 123-109 on Saturday. LeBron James won tournament MVP, though teammate Anthony Davis starred in the finale, scoring 41 points and grabbing 20 rebounds in the final game. And in the other LA, Louisiana, LSU quarterback Jaden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy, narrowly beating out Washington quarterback

Michael Penix. The world has different priorities than God does, and many eternally insignificant things are compelling and exciting for a season. As Christ followers, we can show the world how to enjoy sports without letting them consume our attention or rule our hearts. 1 Corinthians 10 verse 31 says, So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. The Israel-Hamas war is entering its third month. Friday, Hamas released footage of a 25-year-old Israeli hostage, claiming that he died in a failed IDF rescue attempt. Israel confirmed the death, but the IDF didn't comment on the allegation. The same day, footage emerged

of Palestinian men detained in northern Gaza and wearing only underwear. Hamas says the men are innocent civilians being treated inhumanely, but Israel claims the men are Hamas fighters. In the video, at least one man is seen laying down a rifle, and Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu said yesterday dozens of Hamas terrorists have surrendered, calling it the beginning of the end. Humanitarian concerns are fueling international pressure for an end to the fighting. Friday, the U.S. vetoed a U.N. resolution calling for a ceasefire, saying it was rushed and ignored life-saving diplomacy.

Here's a verse to consider when global conflict makes lasting peace seem impossible. See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent's food. Isaiah 65 verses 17 and 25. This episode is sponsored by The Bible Recap. Ever tried explaining the book of Leviticus to your second grader? Helping kids understand and love scripture isn't always simple. Thankfully, the Bible Recap is here with a 365-day reading plan designed for kids. The Bible Recap Kids Devotional by Tara Lee Cobble provides a pathway for little feet ages six and up. It follows the Bible recap book

and podcast's 365-day chronological reading plan, and it points out key verses and essential truths, along with word puzzles, coloring pages, and more. Pre-order through the link in our show notes and receive the first 45 days of the Devo now. Discover the story God's telling about himself with your whole family. In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates. Hunter Biden was indicted on nine charges last week, including filing a false return and tax evasion. He also faces separate firearm charges. The case is expected to go to trial during the 2024 election season, a hurdle for his father, President Biden, who currently lags behind former President Trump in a hypothetical, but likely, rematchup.

former President Trump in a hypothetical, but likely, rematchup. To ensure robots don't, you know, take over the world, the European Union provisionally agreed on the world's first comprehensive laws regulating the use of AI. If adopted, the AI Act would implement a latter approach to requirements. The higher the risk, the stricter the rules, and steep penalties for misuse. Russia's President Putin says he will run for re-election in 2024, all but guaranteeing himself a fifth presidential term that runs through 2030. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian spokesperson voiced hope that efforts to repatriate 19,000 Ukrainian children held in Russian or Russian-controlled territories could move quicker than previously expected.

At least six people died and another 60 were injured after severe storms and tornadoes moved across central Tennessee Saturday evening. Montgomery County, north of Nashville, was hit the hardest, with authorities saying homes in some areas were totally destroyed. As cleanup starts, nearly 40,000 people remained without electricity yesterday afternoon. On Friday, the FDA approved a new treatment for sickle cell disease that uses CRISPR, the Nobel Prize-winning technology that edits patients' DNA to remove problematic genes. This is the first time gene editing therapy has ever been approved for humans, so long-term effects are unknown, and each treatment costs $2.2 million,

but clinical trial patients have seen life-changing results. If you haven't already, go check out our 2023 Christmas Gift Guide. It includes 36 amazing gift ideas made by the TPO community and our sponsors. Go to thepourover.org slash Christmas to find great gifts and support fellow TPO listeners' small businesses. That's thepourover.org slash Christmas. Or check out the link in this episode's show notes. 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.